ISLAMABAD, Dec 17: Iran’s Deputy Minister for Road and Transport, Seyyed Masih Momeni, on Tuesday said that his country was in the process of upgrading Zahidan-Kirman Railway Section, stretching over 550-km, to link Iran with Europe.

Momeni said this in a meeting with Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance, Shaukat Aziz, here. He informed the adviser that so far over 250-km track has been upgraded while the remaining work would be completed by 2004.

They also discussed the progress made in Pak-Iran Joint Economic Ministerial Commission currently being held here. The two sides expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the Ministerial Commission and hoped that these institutionalized arrangements would further increase economic cooperation.

The Economic Commission is a prelude to the upcoming visit of Iranian President Khatami to Pakistan.

Shaukat Aziz noted that close relations between the two countries were extremely cordial and need to expand in the economic area.

Momeni said that if Pakistan could upgrade the portion between Zahidan and Quetta, it would create an effective linkage between Pakistan, Iran and Europe to promote trade via the rail route.

Aziz assured the Iranian Minister that any project which could mutually benefit the two countries and was an economically viable entity would be upgraded as needed.

Similarly, the adviser informed him that Pakistan is in the process of creating a road linking coastal areas of Pakistan and then with Iran. The Gwadar Deep Sea Port, which is likely to be completed in 2004, could also benefit Iran and establish linkages between the two countries to promote trade.

The Iranian delegation apprised the adviser that feasibility for studying the various options for construction of gas pipelines between the two countries and beyond are being inducted and should be concluded shortly.

Earlier, the two sides also reviewed progress on a number of agreements and MoUs in the fields of custom, trade, science and technology and other areas of mutual interest.—APP