ISLAMABAD: Minister for Commerce Naveed Qamar said that opening of Pakistan-Iran 'Pishin Border Market' is expected in coming month, which will increase trend of free trade between two countries.

Pishin Border market had been completed and its inauguration was on cards, while work on other three markets including Gabd, Rimdan and Kohak would start soon, he said. During a meeting with Iranian Parliamentary delegation, led by Senior Iranian Parliamentarian, Malek Fazeli and Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan, Syed Mohammad Ali Husseini, including other members of Iranian Parliament Majid Naseri Nejad and Dr Mohsen Fathi here he said that a total of 12 border markets have been proposed by both sides to increase volume of mutual trade, out of which 9 have been mutually approved.

He said that there will be trade through these border markets under barter system. He said there was dire need to increase trade volume in petroleum and gas, which would help increasing mutual trade volume. "We are importing Liquified Petroleum Gas from Iran and its import also needs to be increased.

There is also a need to increase its production in Pakistan", he said. "We import electricity from Iran for Gwadar and this also needs to be increased", he said. Malek Fazeli said that mutual trade is being carried out and movement of people continues throughout year. He expressed wish that there should be an increase in volume of mutual trade between two countries adding that Iran cooperated with Pakistan for overcoming shortage of onions and tomatoes. Malek Fazeli said considers cooperation between Pakistan and Iran in field of energy essential. Similarly, work on Iran Pakistan gas pipeline also needs to complete in near future.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 16 2022

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.