The Federal Minister for Communications Muhammad Shamim Siddiqui - currently in Tehran to attend the 6th ECO Ministerial meeting, called on Iranian Minister for Roads and Transportation Muhammad Rehmati here on Tuesday.
He discussed matters pertaining to the promotion of bilateral co-operation in the field of roads and transportation between two countries, an official statement said on Wednesday.
The Federal Minister thanked the government and the people of Iran for extending generous assistance to Pakistan in wake of 8th October earthquake and informed the Iranian Minister that the rescue and relief operation had finished; and rehabilitation and reconstruction stage had now started.
He also thanked the Iranian government for dollars 200 million credit given for relief and rehabilitation in the earthquake affected areas in Pakistan.
The Iranian Minister conveyed condolence and sympathies to the people affected by the earthquake adding that the two countries needed to help each other and learn from each other's experience. He said the two neighbouring countries - Iran and Pakistan, should work to promote further economic and commercial cooperation particularly in the field of transportation.
He added that road transportation agreement, which was under negotiations between two sides, need to be finalised at an early date. He informed the visiting Pakistani Minister for Communication that the railway link with Zahidan would be completed within 18 months. Up-gradation of Quetta-Taftan railway line would link Pakistan-Iran railway and help promote east-west link, he added.
The Iranian Minister further stated that the Aviation Agreement signed between two countries required the frequency of air links be increased and expressed the Iran's willingness to start flights between Tehran and Islamabad in addition to the existing Tehran-Karachi flight.
He stressed the need to ease visa regulations for truck drivers and suggested that Pakistan might issue multiple entry visas for validity up to one year to the truck drivers to facilitate commercial exchanges. The Iranian side also suggested that two countries should promote marine links and start ferry service for cargo passengers' service between the Karachi and Bandar Abbas.
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