December 18, 2003	Thursday	Shawwal 23, 1424

KARACHI, Dec 17: Consul General of Iran Seyed Musa Hosseini said here on Wednesday that Iran and Pakistan already have deep relations both cultural and political and further efforts would be made to expand economic relations and enhance trade between the two countries.

In a meeting with Siraj Kassem Teli, president Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), the consul general disclosed that Iran would hold single country exhibition in Karachi in February next year.

This is being done as a practical step towards the goal, he added and suggested that seminars and joint meetings of the officials concerned and Pakistani and Iranian entrepreneurs should be held in order to identify the problems causing hurdles to the development of bilateral trade and to enhancing the trade.

He called for practical proposals from Pakistan and particularly from KCCI for increasing bilateral trade and improving economic cooperation between the two countries. The Iranian envoy agreed that there were some problems in the promotion of bilateral trade, which could be removed through mutual discussion and cooperation. Siraj Kassam Teli called for adopting measures to improve bilateral trade, making it reflective of very close and cordial relations between the two countries.—PPI