ISLAMABAD, April 5: Iran will issue business visas to 6,000 Pakistanis this year in conformity with its policy to extend trade relations with this country. This was stated by Iranian ambassador Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian while talking to a delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) led by ICCI President Zubair Ahmed Malik at the embassy on Monday.

Mr Taherian said it was his government's policy to raise bilateral trade to the level of $1 billion per annum. The embassy, he stated, would issue visas only to those Pakistanis who would be carrying letters of recommendation issued by the ICCI. He said the embassy would provide all necessary facilities and guidance to the Pakistani businessmen.

The ambassador asked the delegation to send proposals to stop smuggling and for optimal use of existing road and rail links for promoting bilateral trade. In reply to a question, Mr Taherian said Iran would not roll back its peaceful nuclear programme.

The ICCI president while stressing the need to increase the bilateral trade between the two countries underlined the importance of improving the role of ECO in this regard.