QUETTA, Aug 23: The Pakistan-Iran Joint Commission on Road and Transportation agreed to improve road conditions and provide more facilities to drivers and traders for enhancing economic ties between both the countries.

The commission in its concluding meeting held here on Tuesday evening discussed major issues of road and transportation in detail and agreed on various points.

Ahmed Khastkhodaie, Director General, Transportation and Terminal, led the 10-member Iranian delegation while Firdaus Alam, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Communication, headed the 11-member Pakistani delegation.

A joint statement issued after the meeting late in the evening said that Pakistan and Iran have agreed to issue multiple entry visas to transporters/drivers for six months, which may be extended to one year later on.

It was decided that National Highway N-40 linking Quetta with the Taftan border would be improved to facilitate the heavy vehicles plying on this route. Particularly, the road section from Nushki to Dalbandin will be reconstructed soon and widened according to international standards.

It was also agreed that Pakistan would construct a terminal at Taftan having all facilities, including quarantine under one roof, for exporting and importing commodities within two years.

The Iranian government agreed to provide all testing facilities of rice for Pakistani exporters at Zahidan.

It was decided in the meeting that for coordination purpose the Pak-Iran Joint Commission would hold its meeting twice a year and according to the decision the next meeting in this regard would be held in Zahidan in February 2006.

Mr Alam said that with extending more road and transport facilities trade would increase between both the countries.

“With improving road and transport facilities trade and economic activities would be increased between both the countries,” Mr Firdaus told Dawn and added that reconstruction work on the Nushki Dalbandin section would be launched soon as the federal government had approved funds for it.

He said that Pakistan and Iran have cordial relations and through holding such meetings all issues could be resolved in a cordial manner.

He said that in the Joint Commission meeting all issues relating to road and transportation were discussed in detail and both the countries agreed to resolve their problems.

Mr Khasthodaie said that the joint commission meeting remained very positive and it provided an opportunity to both countries to resolve their road and transport issues.

Replying to a question, he said that Iran had not received any complaints from visiting Pakistani pilgrims. However, he said that Iran would look into providing more facilities for Pakistani pilgrims who visit Iran for Ziarat.

He said that both Pakistan and Iran have cordial relations which would be further strengthened with the passage of time.