QUETTA: The two-day meeting of the Pakistan-Iran joint border trade committee, which concluded in Zahidan on Friday, took various decisions to remove hurdles in smooth running and expansion of bilateral trade.

“The joint meeting decided to suggest measures to their respective governments to remove hurdles in business and trade activities faced by business communities of both countries,” a senior official of Pakistan Customs told Dawn.

He said the meeting gave suggestions for addressing problems in issuance of visa to the business people.

The official said members of the Quetta Chamber of Com­­merce and Industry dem­anded opening of branches of banks on both sides of the border as businessmen of the two countries were facing problems in making payment to each other.

Sources said the meeting was informed that Pakistan Rail­ways has planned to upgrade the Quetta-Taftan section of Pak-Iran rail track for running more freight trains to boost trade between the two countries. Both sides vowed to take steps for stopping drug smuggling and illegal trade and immigration.

Nadir Meer Shikari, a senior official of Sistan-Baluchestan province and officials of various departments represented the Iranian side.

Official sources said that the meeting discussed the issues pertaining to hurdles in trade and commerce, border affairs, security matters, illegal immigration and drug smuggling.

Shikari expressed the hope that the meeting would prove helpful in increasing bilateral trade and said the Iranian government would remove hurdles in business activities between the two countries.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2019