Minister for Commerce, Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan presided over a meeting in the Ministry of Commerce to prepare proposals and comprehensive strategy to enhance trade cooperation with Iran in the wake of the visit of the Iranian President to Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by officials from Ministry of National Food Security and Research, State Bank of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue, representatives of traders exporting to Iran, representatives of rice and kinnow associations. Two officials of the Iranian Ministry of Trade visiting pakistan also attended the meeting on the special request of the Minister for Commerce.
The meeting was informed by the Collector Customs Quetta that there is a three-fold increase in revenue at Pak-Iran border as a result of better border management which discouraged illicit trade.
The representative of the SBP of Pakistan informed the meeting that there is no restriction on the trading through formal banking channels with Iranian companies in Euro and SBP is encouraging Pakistani private sector to commence trade with Iran.
The Minister informed the Iranian officials that Pakistan is interested in holding massive exhibitions in Iran to present the range of exportable Pakistani products and is in consultation with the concerned Iranian authorities regarding the required approvals.
The exporters of rice, kinnow, fruits, vegetables and local exporters of Baluchistan briefed the Iranian officials in detail about the difficulties confronted by them in exporting their products to Iran. The Iranian officials ensured them to bring the issues to the notice of the relevant authorities.
Mr. Dastgir said that Pakistan wants to enhance its export basket to Iran by exporting home appliances light engineering products and value-added textile.
The meeting was informed that there is high demand for food items in Iran and Pakistan has secured an export order of 100 metric ton of meat to Iran. This would open doors for more export contracts in the food sector in near future.
Mr. Dastgir said that relevant authorities in the Ministry of Health of Iran will be persuaded to fast track the process of authorization of licenses to Pakistani rice mills and rice exporters in order to regain the share of rice market in Iran which was lost during the sanctions.
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