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Islamabad: Pakistan wishes to take friendly and fraternal relations with Iran to a new height as there is tremendous goodwill between the people of the two countries and share historical, social and cultural ties representing the heritage of both countries, said the Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani during his meeting with Mr. Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, Interior Minister for Iran, who called on him at Prime Minister’s House this morning.
Recalling his recent successful visit to Iran, the Prime Minister conveyed his greetings to the Supreme Leader, the President and the First Vice President of the Iran.
The Prime Minister said that wide-ranging discussions were held on matters of mutual interests including the political reconciliation process in Afghanistan for which the Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s support for Afghan-owned and Afghan-led.
The Prime Minister also reiterated his vision to further strengthen bilateral relations in all spheres particularly trade and commercial relations. He said that irritants in the way of achieving the level of relations must be removed.
The Prime Minister recalled that the two countries had decided during his visit to Iran to constitute a mechanism at the level of the Foreign Ministers for regular exchange of views to take bilateral cooperation to a new height.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of expediting energy projects already agreed upon in cooperation with Iran. The Prime Minister also appreciated Iran’s assistance for the flood victims in Sindh and especially thanked Interior Minister Najjar’s presence in Pakistan at this time Pakistan look forward to Iran’s assistance particularly in the reconstruction projects in flood affected areas.
Interior Minister Najjar conveyed the Iranian leadership’s readiness to support Pakistan in all its efforts from flood relief to reconstruction projects to energy related projects as well as in efforts of the two countries to ensure peace and cooperation in the border areas of the two countries. He maintained that unity between Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan could contain threats to these countries and the region.
He informed that In addition to US $ 100 million as flood relief assistance, Iran cargo plane with essential items has already reached Pakistan and another cargo plane would be landing Karachi today. Interior Minister Najjar would visit Karachi to personally receive the relief assistance from Iran. He assured the Prime Minister that Iran would make all efforts to execute and complete the various projects in the pipeline.
During the Prime Minister’s visit to Iran a decision was taken to declare Rusht, the capital of Gilan province and the city of Multan as sister cities. The Prime Minister invited the governor of Gilan during which the decision to declare Multan and Rusht sister cities will be finalized.
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