Iranian Airline to resume direct Pakistan - Iran flights
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LAHORE: (APP) Iranian Consul General Mohammad Hossein Bani Assadi said on Tuesday that business communities of Pakistan and Iran will have to increase interaction and share their experiences in the larger interest of the peoples of the two brotherly countries.
Talking to Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Abdul Basit and former president Syed Mohsin Raza Bukhari here at the Iranian Consulate, he stressed increasing interaction through sector-wise trade delegations and single-country exhibitions from the platform of Chambers of Commerce on both sides.
The envoy disclosed that Iranian airlines would soon start operations for Pakistan, initially with two flights per week i.e. one each flight from Lahore and Karachi to Tehran.
Assadi said that Iran had completed its part of Fiber Optic Cable, which only needed connection with Pakistan to improve telecommunication structure between the two countries.
On this occasion, the LCCI president said that participation of Iranian President Rouhani and visit of high-level Iranian delegation, led by President of Iran Chamber Engr Gholam Hossein Shafie to the ECO Conference in Islamabad, was an ample proof of the cordial and friendly relations between the two countries. The government plan to send a team to revisit the Gas Sale Purchase Agreement (GSPA) with Iran, as it can provide an effective solution to the country's energy crisis.
"LCCI and business community of Lahore hail new business visa policy and introduction of business visa drop box facility. LCCI is very pleased that for Punjab, it has been entrusted to an LCCI member. Such steps will benefit bilateral trade relations, since countries share border, rich resources, culture and religion," he added.
Through Iran, Pakistan can initiate trade with Central Asian States via land route, forming an important region for global economics due to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and One Belt One Road. The LCCI as premier chamber will be leading the trade with Iran and the ECO counties and delegations are being formed to visit neighboring countries.
The Iranian consul was informed that State Bank of Pakistan governor, during his recent visit to the LCCI, assured the business community of opening up Pak-Iran banking channel.
Abdul Basit said that the LCCI would write a letter to the prime minister and the Ministry of Communication to bridge communication gap for further cementing mutual trade relations. He said both the sides need to conduct market research to further strengthen bilateral.
Also, Mohsin Raza Bukhari stressed the need for collaboration in SMEs and mega projects like onshore and offshore oil & gas exploration activities, hydel and coal based energy projects, paper & board, sugar, cement, chemicals, transport & communication, construction of roads in Pakistan, scientific & educational cooperation, handicrafts, artificial jewellery, carpets and fancy furniture, etc.
He said Pakistan is 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 in improvement of Pakistan's agro-based food processing and dairy industry.
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 equalise our trade balance, he added.
