June 25, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 20, 1429

KARACHI, June 24: The private sector trade delegation from Iran has called for promotion of bilateral trade, especially in 697 identified goods from both sides, wherein either zero-rated or concessional customs duty is applied.

During a visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Tuesday, it said 309 items could be exported to Iran whereas 388 items could be imported.

Both the governments had already agreed to charge very concessional customs duty on these goods, placed on the list meant for bilateral trade, said Eraj Hassan, leader of the delegation and President of Commerce Organization of Sistan and Baluchistan province during a meeting with the elected body of KCCI including the managing committee members.

He said the Iranian government had reduced the customs duty to zero level on Pakistani rice, potato, kinoo and mango. Now Pakistan government and the business community should catch the Iranian market, he said.

KCCI President Shamim Ahmed Shamsi called for transfer of technology from Iran especially relating to roads and building construction and of petro-chemical industry.

He suggested that a delegation of engineers, professionals and experts representing different sectors in Iran should visit Pakistan, especially Karachi, to hold meetings with their counterparts here so that more avenues of trade, investment, and exchange of technology and know-how could be found.

He underlined the need for strengthening transit trade through road and rail routes. Both the governments would have to come forward.—APP