December 02, 2006	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 10, 1427

LAHORE, Dec 1: Iran has expressed interest in setting up an auto plant in Pakistan like similar units put up by Tehran in Azerbaijan and Syria. This transpired in a meeting between Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives Jahangir Khan Tareen and Iran’s Commerce and Industry Minister Alireza Tahmasebi, who was here to participate in the ECO ministerial meeting, which concluded on Thursday.

Tareen also held meetings with the industries ministers of Turkey and Afghanistan to discuss bilateral and multilateral industrial cooperation.

Tareen apprised the Iranian minister about the progress made by Pakistan in auto industry and assured him of the fullest support and assistance on behalf of the government for having Iranian investment in this area.

The meeting with the Turkish Minister for Industries Ali Coskun focused on promoting the bilateral trade relations. The Turkish minister observed that the trade relations between Turkey and Pakistan did not match their business potential and spirit of brotherhood.

He invited Mr Tareen to visit Turkey so as to look into the areas of industrial and commercial collaboration between the two countries.

Afghan Minister of Commerce and Industry Meer Muhammad Amin discussed the plan for initiating ROZs in the tribal areas between Afghan-Pakistan borders. He disclosed that the plan in this regard would be finalised by end of this month.