LAHORE: Participants in a seminar said Iran and Pakistan should overcome the challenges in bilateral ties for peace, stability and economic growth of the region.

Lahore College for Women University’s (LCWU’s) Persian, International Relations and Political Science departments jointly organised a three-day international seminar on ‘Pakistan-Iran Relations’ from Jan 21 to 23.

Senator Talha Mahmood said Iran was the first country to recognize Pakistan and later helped Pakistan in different wars.

He condemned the killing of Gen Qassem Solaimani and said the government had announced that Pakistan’s territory would not be used against Iran.

Retired Lt-Gen Javed Hassan said Pakistan and Iran should enhance cooperation in a number of social and cultural domains and should expand economic relations in the context of bilateral relations.

He said both countries had significant cultural and people-to-people contacts besides historical social, cultural, linguistic, ethnic and religious linkages.

He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was a game changer in the region and Iran must also join the project.

Iranian Consul General Raza Nazri said relations between Iran and Pakistan were very strong economically and socially. One minute of silence was observed for the Ukrainian plane crew and passengers who died in a mistaken missile strike in Tehran.

On Jan 21, the Persian Department also launched book Gaam-i-Awal Urdu. The book is written by Raza Murad Sehrai, vice president of the Saadi Foundation Tehran and also director of the Tehran Higher Education, and reviewed by Dr Faleeha Zahra Kazmi. The book caters to the needs of all those who are interested in learning Persian, one of the widely spoken languages of the world.

Participants highlighted the role of Persian language in strengthening Pakistan-Iran relations and said the book will prove to be the first step in right direction.

Dr Bushra Mirza, LCWU vice chancellor, Dr Reza Morad Sahrai, vice president of the Saadi Foundation and director of Tehran Higher Education, Prof Dr Morteza Noor Mohammadi, of Allama Tabatabai University in Tehran, Imran Masood, vice chancellor of the South Asia University, and Razai Fard, director general of the Iran Culture Centre were present.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2020