QUETTA: Pakistan Ambassador to Iran Mohammad Mudassir Tepu has claimed that the government would resolve all issues being faced by the business community in promoting trade with Iran to boost the volume of trade between the two countries.

Speaking to the business community and members of Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) through a video link at Trade House, the ambassador said the government was determined to promote trade with Iran and in this connection it would remove all hurdles blocking the trade with the brotherly country. He urged the business community to play its role in strengthening country’s economy through increased trade of goods between Pakistan and Iran.

He said representatives of exporters, importers and transporters from Balochistan would soon meet Pakistan Consul General in Zahidan to discuss the problems they face in trade with Iran.

Pakistan’s envoys in Mashhad and Zahidan, Shehryar Mandokhail and Mohammad Sadiq, also attended the meeting.

QCCI president Haji Abdullah Achakzai, senior vice president Haji Agha Gul Khilji, vice president Syed Abdul Ahad Agha, senior members Haji Mohammad Yaqoob Mariani, Haji Faujan Bareech, Fida Hussain Dashti, and others drew attention of the Pakistan ambassador towards challenges and problems the exporters, importers and transporters faced in trade between Pakistan and Iran.

The business leaders of Balochistan urged the Pakistan ambassador to address problems such as uniformity in prices of goods at border markets, facilities for loading and unloading of goods in Taftan and Mirjaveh areas and resolution of visa issues between the two countries.

They suggested that the Pakistani ambassador should hold further meetings with Pakistani businessmen involved in trade with Iran.

During the meeting, Consul General Sadiq was directed to visit Balochistan as soon as possible to assess the situation and gather information about problems being faced by businessmen involved in Pakistan-Iran trade.

Earlier in January, Pakistan had recalled its 34-member delegation from Chahbahar after the Iranian strikes in the Panjgur area of Balochistan.

Former Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fida Hussain Dashti, who was part of the delegation, then disclosed the delegation had reached Chahbahar before the Iranian attack in Panjgur but Iranian officials did not welcome them. The Iranian border authorities disallowed five members, including QCCI President Abdullah Achakzai, to cross into Iran, he said.

According to Mr Dashti, the MoUs which were planned to be inked at the meeting could not be signed after the strikes, as Pakistani delegation immediately returned in protest.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2024