QUETTA: The Consul General of Iran in Quetta, Hassan Darwishvand, has said that full implementation of the Pak-Iran Barter Trade Agreement would not only promote trade activities between the two countries but also help create massive job opportunities for their people.

“We welcome the issuance of SRO on Pakistan-Iran barter trade on behalf of the Pakistan government. We will not spare a single moment to reciprocate the same positive gesture,” he said.

Speaking at an Iftar-dinner he hosted for officials and members of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) on Monday, Mr Darwishvand said: “We hope the promotion of bilateral trade will make the two brotherly countries economically prosperous.

He said the QCCI members had always played a vital role in promoting legal trade between Pakistan and Iran for which they deserved commendation.

He said that Pakistan and Iran had strong Islamic, cultural and trade relations and the Barter Trade Agreement would have a very positive impact and lead to prosperity of the people living in the two countries.

The consul general said he would contact relevant officials of Iran for immediate action in this regard and expressed the hope that no compromise would now be made on Pak-Iran trade relations and barter trade would flourish and continue without hurdles.

Earlier, Mr Darwishvand met QCCI patron-in-chief Haji Ghulam Farooq Khilji, senior vice president Mohammad Ayub Mariani, vice president Amjad Ali Siddiqui and other officials and members.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Khilji and Mr Mariani said that officials and members of the QCCI had been striving hard to promote legal trade between Iran and Pakistan and other countries of the region.

“We are pleased that now not only the Barter Trade Agreement is in place, but the federal Ministry of Commerce has also issued an SRO in this regard, which we consider a great success,” they said.

“We will continue to play our role for the welfare of the people involved in the industry and trade of the province and for solution of unemployment problems being faced by the people living in the two countries,” they said.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2022