Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Nazar Muhammad Gondal here on Wednesday stressed the need for increasing bilateral co-operation between Pakistan and Iran, particularly in the agriculture sector. Talking to Ambassador of Iran Mashaallah Shakri this afternoon, the federal minister said that there was tremendous potential of co-operation in agriculture, which needed to be explored.
He further said both the countries enjoy cordial relations and Pakistan wants to further cement these relations especially in Agriculture sector. He expressed the hope that the completion of Quetta-Zahidan-Bam-Tehran railway track in coming two months would help boost agriculture trade of agriculture products between the two countries.
The Minister said that Iran could help Pakistan in data processing technology and stressed the need for enhancing exports of mangoes, citrus and rice to Iran. The Minister said that import duty imposed by Iran on agriculture products from Pakistan needed to be reduced as it has reduced the bilateral agriculture trade and added that Pakistan was ready to help Iran in developing irrigation system.
The Minister extends an official invitation to agriculture minister of Iran and stressed the need of activating already existing joint working group on agriculture between Pakistan and Iran. The Ambassador thanked the Minister for showing keen interest in boosting bilateral trade and stressed the need for enhancing bilateral interaction for this purpose. The Ambassador also extends the invitation to minister to visit Iran.