Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan and Iran are two important countries of the Islamic World and have close fraternal relations. He said that due to the longstanding ties spanning over centuries, the people of the two countries are bound together in strong bonds of love and brotherhood which are strengthening with the passage of time.
He said that in the changing economic scenario of the 21st Century, Pakistan and Iran can take benefit from each other's industrial and agriculture development through barter trade system. He was talking to Iranian Ambassador in Pakistan Ali Raza Haghighian, here on Wednesday. Iranian Consul General in Lahore Muhammad Hussain Bani Asadi, Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Special Assistant Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Secretary Agriculture, Vice-Chairman Punjab Investment Board and senior officers were also present.
The prospects of promoting bilateral co-operation between Iran and Punjab province in different sectors were discussed in detail during the meeting. The Chief Minister said that Pakistan and Iran have a similar stance over regional and international issues. He said that the relations between the two countries are a shining example of mutual respect and friendship.
He said that being the members of Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO), the Organisation of Developing Eight Countries (D-8) and Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO), Pakistan and Iran should benefit from each other's experience and skills in economic and trade sectors in the interest of the progress and development of the two countries.
He said that there are vast opportunities of investment in energy and other sectors in Punjab and Iranian investors should benefit from them. He expressed his satisfaction over the fact that Iran has displayed remarkable performance in tourism, automobile industry, livestock, agriculture, transport, information technology and heavy engineering sectors. He said that Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and the oil rich Gulf States should evolve a joint strategy for peace and prosperity in the region.
Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif further said that Punjab government is transforming its infrastructure of public welfare to international standard with foreign co-operation and besides launching of the most modern system of solid waste management in Lahore with the co-operation of brotherly Islamic country of Turkey, revolutionary changes are also been introduced in public transport sector.
He said that a high level joint committee has been set up under the chairmanship of Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa for promoting economic co-operation with Iran so that Punjab could also make progress by benefiting from Iranian expertise and experience.
Iranian Ambassador Ali Raza Haghighian appreciated the potential of Punjab for development in various sectors. He said that Iranian government is ready to import wheat and rice from Pakistan under barter trade system which will further expand bilateral economic co-operation. He said that Governor of Iranian province Persia will soon visit Punjab.
He said that Iran Fair will also be arranged in Lahore while an exhibition will be organised regarding Punjab province in the Iranian city of Mashhad. He further said that a high level delegation of Tehran Chamber of Commerce and Industry representing business and trade companies will soon visit Lahore for the purpose of further improving economic co-operation between Punjab and Iranian business organisations. Secretary Agriculture and Vice-Chairman Investment Board informed the meeting about the prospects of bilateral co-operation between Iran and Punjab province in various sectors.
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