A Pakistani delegation is likely to visit Iran to finalise the proposed barter trade deal between the two countries, an official told Business Recorder on Thursday. The delegation will comprise of federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) Israrullah Khan Zehri, former minister MFS&R Nazar Muhmmad Gondal and former secretary MFS&R Shafqat Hussain Nagmi,
Managing Director of Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) Major-General Sohail Shafkat and senior officials of Ministries of Production, Commerce and Industries would also take part in the negotiations.
Managing Director of Passco, Major General Sohail Shafkat, said that although a team was to visit Iran, the MFS&R had not yet informed him officially if he will be part of the delegation. He said that there were unconfirmed reports that Iran had bought wheat from another country.
The official said that Pakistan had offered a million tons of wheat to Iran in return for fertiliser and iron ore. Iran earlier expressed unwillingness to accept Pakistani wheat, complaining it contained karnal bunt or Tilletia Indica in April this year.
He said that during the last visit, the Pakistani delegation also provided wheat samples to Iranian authorities. However, Iranian authorities demanded the supply of disease-free grain, he said. The official said that Pakistan had also invited Iranian agriculture experts to inspect Pakistani laboratories to check for karnal bunt and/or Tilletia Indica in wheat samples.
He said that the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) has sent a letter to Plant Protection Department of Iran in this regard.
The proposed arrangement was first discussed in February this year when President Asif Ali Zardari and Iranian President Mehmoud Ahmadinejad held a meeting in Islamabad. Both the leaders resolved to raise Pakistan-Iran bilateral trade to $10 billion.
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