QUETTA: The 24th meeting of the Pakistan-Iran joint border commission has decided to take steps to improve security, boost trade and stop illegal border crossing and smuggling, officials have said.

The two-day meeting, held in the Zahedan city of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province, concluded on Thursday.

The Pakistani delegation, led by Balochistan Chief Secretary Abdul Aziz Uqaili, briefed the meeting about the steps taken by federal and provincial governments to ensure law and order in the border area.

The Iranian delegation was led by Sistan-Baluchistan’s governor for law and order and enforcement, Ali Raza Marhamti.

The meeting also discussed other issues, including border security, human smuggling, illegal border crossing and illegal drug trade.

The meeting also agreed to extend more facilities to the business community of the two countries and promote exchange of sports, culture and education delegations.

“It was agreed that both countries would cooperate with each other to maintain law and order on both sides of the border,” official sources told Dawn, adding that strict measures would be taken to curb human smuggling and drug business.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Uqaili said Pakistan and Iran have “cordial, historic and friendly” relations and both countries always strived to strengthen their relationship and promote regional cooperation.

He said the objective of the annual joint border commission meeting was to promote and strengthen regional trade in an organised way so that it could benefit both countries.

Meanwhile, Governor Marhamti said he agreed with the views of the Pakistan delegation and hoped that the decisions taken in the meeting would be implemented by both sides.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2022