Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, met with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan, Dr. Reza Amiri Moghaddam, to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the energy sector, as well as other areas of mutual interest. The Federal Minister welcomed the Iranian delegation and reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to enhancing its longstanding partnership with Iran.
Ambassador Dr. Reza Amiri Moghaddam expressed gratitude for the unwavering support extended by the Government and the people of Pakistan during challenging times. Describing Pakistan and Iran as close neighbours with deep-rooted ties, he highlighted the ongoing cooperation in the energy sector, including the existing cross-border transmission infrastructure. He shared that work on a second transmission line is expected to commence soon and noted consideration to expand the current 100 MW electricity supply arrangement to better meet future requirements.
The Ambassador underscored the importance of regional connectivity and announced that Pakistani energy institutions, including CPPA-G, QESCO, and NGC, would be invited to participate in the upcoming session of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Commission in Tehran. He also emphasized the potential for expanding bilateral cooperation in agriculture and food products. Appreciating Pakistan's commitment to timely payments, he expressed satisfaction with the existing electricity payment mechanism between the two countries.
During the meeting, Federal Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari stressed the importance of the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran. He observed that no country remains untouched by regional instability and that the repercussions of recent conflicts have affected economies across the world. Pakistan, he noted, has also faced the impact of rising global energy prices, particularly due to higher RLNG costs. He reaffirmed that the people of Pakistan sincerely desire peace and stability in the region and emphasized that Pakistan's leadership continues to work closely with the Iranian leadership in support of peaceful dialogue and the resolution of regional challenges.
The Federal Minister appreciated Iran's uninterrupted electricity supply to Pakistan despite the difficult regional security environment and expressed interest in sending Pakistani technical experts to Iran to study how the Iranian power sector successfully maintained the stability and resilience of its national grid under such challenging circumstances.
Highlighting the strategic importance of Gwadar, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said that the city's continued development depends on a reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply. While electricity imports from Iran have continued without interruption, he noted that Gwadar still faces network reliability challenges that require further investment in transmission infrastructure. He added that Pakistan is also interested in investing in local power generation in Gwadar.
The Minister further stated that electricity imports from Iran will remain an integral part of Pakistan's long-term energy planning and may increase as Gwadar's demand continues to grow. Looking ahead, he emphasized the importance of investment in renewable energy, the development of two-way electricity trade between the two countries, and ensuring that electricity remains affordable for consumers. He also accepted the invitation extended by the Iranian Ambassador.
Ambassador Dr. Reza Amiri Moghaddam commended the leadership and diplomatic efforts of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, stating that their constructive engagement played a significant role in facilitating the peace talks held in Islamabad. He observed that Pakistan-Iran relations have reached an unprecedented level of mutual trust and cooperation.
The Ambassador further shared that the bilateral trade is expected around USD 4 billion by the end of the year. He described Pakistan and Iran as brotherly nations bound by a unique relationship that must continue to be strengthened. Despite disruptions to maritime routes, he noted, Iran made every possible effort to ensure that Pakistan's trade requirements were met. He also expressed Iran's interest in routing a significant portion of its trade through Pakistani ports, emphasizing that closer cooperation in the energy sector and other areas would be essential to achieving this shared objective.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening cooperation in energy, trade, connectivity, and other areas of mutual interest, while continuing to build on the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Iran.
