Irani gas can support Pakistani economy for centuries: Dr Murtaza Mughal
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Pakistan-Iran FTA to be finalised in three months: Ambassador
Banking channel, greater aviation cooperation with Pakistan soon: Honardost
Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost has said that banking channels between Tehran and Islamabad will start working soon as the top officials of the central banks of the two countries are scheduled to meet within days.
Improved banking ties will boost bilateral trade between the two countries as the current volume of commerce does not reflect cordial ties while Banking relations are central to boost trade and investment ties, he said.
Talking to Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President of the Pakistan Economy Watch, Mehdi Honardoost informed that a high-powered Pakistani delegation is to visit Iran during the next week to finalise Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
He informed that Iran has already forwarded final draft of FTA to Pakistani authorities with hope that FTA will be finalised within three months.
The Ambassador said that the Islamic Republic has planned to modernise its airlines and asked US to provide 100 aircraft but got approval of seventeen while direct flights between Islamabad and Tehran are on the cards.
We are also revamping our tourism and hospitality industry which is also an opportunity for Pakistani investors to explore opportunities, he added.
Mr Honardoost said that we have been issuing over one hundred thousand visas to Pakistanis and plant to augment the number as the trade ties continue to improve as the border crossing at Pishin, Baluchistan which is bordered with Iran in the west.
To a question, he said that a stable Pakistan in the interest of Iran and whole regions and that Chabahar Port is a commercial initiative which poses no threat to Pakistani ports.
At the occasion Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that Iran is welcome to initiate joint ventures and to invest in different mega projects. Lack of trade-related information was one of the biggest reasons of low trade volume, he added.
Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that Pakistan should immediately start importing gas and more electricity from Iran to boost economy and provide jobs to millions of youth flooding the market every year. Irani gas can support our economy for decades therefore the same should be imported on war footing.
