QUETTA: Consul General of Iran in Quetta Hassan Darwishvand has said that in order to promote trade and achieve trade targets, governments of Pakistan and Iran should take steps to resolve issues being faced by businessmen of the two countries.

Speaking at a meeting with a delegation of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) led by its President Fida Hussain Dashti on Tuesday, Mr Darwishvand said the issues would be discussed in the upcoming annual meeting of the Joint Border Trade Commission.

He said a meeting of the commission would be held soon in Zahidan in which steps would be suggested for strengthening bilateral trade and for resolving issues being faced by the businessmen of the two countries.

“In this regard, Iran is always ready for all possible cooperation,” said Iran’s envoy, adding that authorities concerned should be approached for resolving issues affecting smooth trade activities between the two countries.

The envoy suggested that the business communities of Pakistan and Iran should form committees for resolving visa and other issues.

He appreciated the role of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry in promoting Pak-Iran trade relations and held out an assurance that Iranian government would play its role in removing all obstacles for smooth trade activities between the two countries.

Earlier, Mr Dashti and Mohammad Ayub Mariani drew the attention of Iran’s envoy towards difficulties being faced by those involved in border and barter trade.

Mr Dashti expressed the hope that immediate steps would be taken to resolve these issues.

He said that the QCCI had been making efforts since day one to promote trade relations between the two countries.

“Promotion of Pak-Iran bilateral trade is the guarantor of economic stability and prosperity of the people living on both sides of the Pak-Iran border,” Mr Dashti said.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2021