QUETTA: Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai has said that close coordination and links between Gwadar and Chabahar ports would help strengthen cordial and trade relations between Pakistan and Iran.

Speaking at an iftar dinner hosted by Iranian Consul General Muhammad Rafi on Tuesday, he said that the two countries shared common religion and cultural ties and those relations were improving with the passage of time.

“Both Pakistan and Iran have always extended mutual cooperation and stand shoulder-to-shoulder for regional peace,” said Governor Achakzai. He said that there was room for cementing relations further in different sectors — including trade and economics.

Speaking on the occasion, the Iranian consul general said that his country had always given importance to improving its relations with Pakistan. He said that bilateral relations in the field of trade and economic sector were improving due to positive steps being taken by both governments. “The trade volume had reached up to two billion dollars last year between both the countries,” he said.

Balochistan’s role was very important in increasing trade as it shared a long coast and border with Iran and currently both countries were doing trade through road and rail links, he added.

Mr Rafi said that joint border trade committees’ meetings in Zahidan and Gwadar were very successful and had paved the way for promoting trade between both countries.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2018