KARACHI: The Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran Mehdi Honardoost has said that lack of information and know-how about the capabilities of Iran and Pakistan amongst the business communities of the two neighboring Islamic countries was hindering trade but the situation has been improving as Pakistan-Iran trade volume improved by 31 percent last year.
“Business communities of both countries are totally unaware of each other’s capabilities and opportunities therefore, we have to focus on exchanging information, trade delegations and other promotional activities between the two countries, besides improving ties of Karachi Chamber with its peer Chamber in Iran”, he added while speaking at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Iranian Consul General in Karachi Ahmad Mohammadi, President KCCI Muffasar Atta Malik, Senior Vice President Abdul Basit Abdul Razzak, Vice President Rehan Hanif, Former President Majyd Aziz and KCCI Managing Committee members attended the meeting.
Iranian Ambassador said that both countries have so many commonalities and similarities which simply cannot be found between any other countries of the entire region.
He stated that there was a huge potential of cooperation between the two powers of the region with good neighborly ties and whole history of friendship and fraternity.
He was of the view that the regional problems like terrorism, human trafficking and narcotics trafficking should be solved by the regional countries, which have common perception, common interests and common concerns.
Mehdi Honardoost said that Iran was keen to develop its ties with Pakistan by focusing on enhancing trade which continues to grow each year, exporting electricity to Pakistan, implementing Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline, signing of Free Trade Agreement and commencement of banking transactions between the two brotherly countries. “Your rivals are much faster and active than you so you also have to take steps accordingly. You have to grab some more portion of the Iranian Market which has a lot of potential for Pakistani goods and services. We are also ready to share almost everything with our Pakistani brothers and sisters”, he added.
He said that Iran was particularly interested in some of the giant projects with Pakistan including the IP Gas Pipeline Project, Signing of FTA, and Commencement of Banking Operations between the two countries. “IP Gas Pipeline project can completely change the face of Pakistan’s economy as the cheaper gas being supplied under this project can be used as raw material by industries which would create a lot of job opportunities whereas it can also be used for cheaper power generation”, he said, adding that delays in FTA and commencement of banking transactions are impediments to enhanced trade and businesses between the two countries.
Referring to high-level meetings between the political leaders of the two neighboring Islamic States and visits of delegations, the Ambassador said that increase in exchange of delegations indicate that the horizon for enhanced trade ties is ‘bright and clear’.
