TEHRAN: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday arrived here on a two-day official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran as a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations.
Upon arrival at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran, Prime Minister Sharif was warmly received by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri-Moghaddam, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran Mudassir Tipu, and senior diplomatic officials.
The contingents of the Iranian armed forces presented a salute to the visiting dignitary.
Prime Minister Sharif is accompanied by a high-level delegation including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi.
During the visit, Prime Minister Sharif will meet with Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian at the historic Saadabad Palace in Tehran, where he will receive an official guard of honor.
The meeting will focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation and discussing recent regional developments, including India’s aggression toward Pakistan.
Prime Minister Sharif is expected to thank the Iranian leadership and people for their support of Pakistan and for their efforts toward peace in South Asia.
In addition, the Pakistani delegation will meet with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, to discuss key bilateral and regional issues of mutual concern.
Prime Minister Sharif and his delegation will also attend a state banquet hosted in their honor by President Pezeshkian.
The visit is expected to bolster diplomatic, economic, and strategic ties between the two neighboring countries.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran which stood at $3 billion, would be taken to $10 billion volume in the next few years, as there was immense potential of growth.
In an interview with IRNA, prior to his visit to Tehran on Monday, the prime minister said the bilateral trade between the two countries had witnessed a significant increase in the past three to four years.
“We want to take it up to $10 billion in the next few years, but I think the potential is much larger than that as well. We are discussing signing a free trade agreement (FTA). I think in the next ten years, the trade volume between the two countries will expand a great deal. The need is to have sustained economic engagements for the long term between Pakistan and Iran,” the Iranian news wire quoted the prime minister as saying.
The prime minister, to a query, replied that he strongly believed that the economic destiny of both countries was interlinked as they shared a border of about 900 kilometers.
“I personally believe that a strong economic linkage between Pakistan’s Balochistan and Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan can be good for the entire region. It can also be very effective in dealing with terrorism,” he added.
He further mentioned that the two countries had signed memoranda of understanding about developing projects between these provinces.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif further underscored the need of sustained economic engagement between Iran and Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD: An overseas Pakistani has alleged that he was denied possession of a plot in…
QUETTA: The shortage of petroleum products has intensified in various districts of Balochistan, due to…
ISLAMABAD: The government has proposed a major restructuring of industrial electricity tariffs and shared the…
Pakistani actress Mehwish Hayat has offered an exclusive sneak peek into her upcoming horror-comedy film…
KARACHI: A local holiday has been declared in Karachi on June 8 on the occasion…
KARACHI: The Iranian Rial continues to face significant challenges internationally due to sanctions and economic conditions. It…