KISH ISLAND (IRAN): The Shahanshah of Iran said here today [March 31] that Iran will help Pakistan overcome the balance of payments difficulties arising from the increase in oil prices. In an informal meeting with Pakistani newsmen … the Shahanshah said the economic co-operation … would get a further fillip as a result of the talks between the two leaders. He told the … journalists in his palace overlooking the Persian Gulf “we are thinking of joint ventures with Pakistan or putting money in your projects. …”

Asked if he would take any steps to help the countries with which Iran had special friendship, the Shahanshah said “on a broader basis we have approached this problem on worldwide and humanitarian grounds”. The Shahanshah recalled the proposal he had made through the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to create a new organisation for this purpose. The details of this proposal … were already known. Answering another question, the Shahanshah said that relations between Pakistan and Iran were already very “cordial, friendly and brotherly” and would further grow… .

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2024