Iranian Consul General stresses need for establishment of Pakistan-Iran Corridor through Zahedan and Quetta to help give boost to bilateral trade relations

Lahore, November 13, 2013 (PPI-OT): The Iranian Consul General Muhammad Banni Asadi on Wednesday stressed the need for establishment of Pakistan-Iran Corridor through Zahedan and Quetta to help give real boost to bilateral trade relations that do not match at all the potential the two brotherly countries have.

The Iranian Consul General was talking to LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari. LCCI Vice President Kashif Anwar, Executive Committee Members Maqsood Ahmad Butt, Talha Tayyab Butt and Pir nazim Hussain Shah also spoke on the occasion.

Muhammad Banni Asadi said that an early establishment of Pak-Iran Corridor would not only create thousands of new jobs for people of Balochistan but would also cause considerable infrastructure-related development in that area. He said that at a time when Iran and India were doing a business of more than $15 billion, the volume of two-way trade between Pakistan and Iran was negligible.

The Iranian Consul General said that Pakistan and Iran have the potential to cater to each other’s needs provided the businessmen have the exposure to the available opportunities. He said that the business community in the two countries would have to increase interaction to share their experiences in the larger interests of the people of two brotherly nations.

He said that the volume of mutual trade between Pakistan and Iran does not match their respective potentials. He said that Chambers of Commerce in the two countries would have to focus on expansion of trade by holding single country exhibitions and through trade delegations to each other’s country.

He said that dissemination of sector-specific and trade-related information would go a long way in achieving the goal. Both the countries should share their experiences in the field of science and technology also. Agriculture, Tourism and Metal industry of Iran have opportunities of investment therefore Pakistani business community should come forward.

Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari reassured the Iranian Consul General that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry would continue to play its role for increasing bilateral trade and economic relations. He said that Pakistan and Iran are two brotherly Islamic countries. Therefore, maximum efforts are needed to strengthen their relations in all fields.

He said both the sides need to conduct Market research to further strengthen trade relations between the two countries. Priority should be given to each other for import of goods rather than buying from distant countries. Collaboration in SMEs and mega projects like onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration activities, hydel and coal based energy projects, paper and board, sugar, cement, chemicals, transport and communication, construction of roads in Pakistan, scientific and educational cooperation, handicrafts, artificial jewellery, carpets, fancy furniture etc.

He said Pakistan is basically an agricultural country bestowed with variety of seasons and agro-based products. But due to lack of post harvest technologies a lot of agriculture produce is wasted.

Hence, technology from Iran can help Pakistan’s agro-based food processing and dairy industry to improve. Pakistan is one of the leading countries and known around the globe for its textile potential and products, that still needs to be properly introduced in Iranian business houses. Such efforts can also prove vital to equalize our trade balance.

For more information, contact:
Shahid Khalil
Information Department
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)
11-Shahrah-e-Aiwan-e-Tijarat,
Lahore -54000, Pakistan
Tel: +9242 111 222 499
Fax: +92 42 636 8854