Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan and Iran on Monday agreed on joint efforts by the two countries to eradicate terrorism in the region besides promoting bilateral relations and cooperation in diverse fields and promote business activities at the border areas to ensure development and prosperity of the people of the two countries.
The understanding to this effect reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi in Islamabad on Monday. The Ministers and senior officials from both sides were present in the meeting.
The two leaders discussed the entire range of bilateral relations and exchanged views on important regional and global developments.
Underscoring the rich history of relations between Pakistan and Iran, the two leaders reaffirmed commitment to expand wide-ranging bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, energy, connectivity, culture and people-to-people contacts.
They also agreed to cooperate in developing joint approaches to confront common challenges including the threat of terrorism.
Later, the two sides signed 8 agreements and Memoradum of Understandings (MOUs) for cooperation in diverse fields.
The agreements included cooperation in security, judicial assistance in civil matters and veterinary and animal health.
The two countries signed an MOU for establishment of a special economic zone whilst another was signed for film exchanges and cooperation between Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Organization of Cinema and audio visual affairs of Iran.
Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Ministry of Cooperatives, labours and social welfare of Iran as well as Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority and National Standards Organization of Iran also signed MOUs of cooperation.
Addressing a joint press conference alongside Iranian President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said under the leadership of the Iranian President, the two countries could bring development and prosperity in their respective sides by turning their borders into hub of business activities.
He said during their meeting, the two sides held detailed discussions on various fields of mutual interests including economy, trade, investment, diplomacy, security and culture.
The Iranian President, who arrived here on Monday on his three-day official visit to Pakistan along with a high powered delegation, said that the trade volume between the two brotherly countries was not below the existing potential and they wanted to increase the volume to US$10 billion annually in next five years.
He stressed that steps were needed to enhance border markets to give spur to the business and trade activities at the border areas, besides enhancing security.
The Iranian president said that the two countries shared common affinities and no one could separate them, adding the two sides in their meetings, decided to further promote the bilateral ties between the two countries in trade and economic sectors.
President Dr Raisi said that there were a number of common issues including fight against terrorism, efforts to curb organized crimes and smuggling, in which the two sides could enhance their cooperation.
The president stressed that it was significant to further broaden the bilateral ties for the benefits of the two countries, besides continuity of cooperation at the highest level.
He said that the historic and durable ties between Iran and Pakistan provided them opportunity to fully utilize them for the welfare and prosperity of the two nations.
President Raisi said that Iran had achieved immense progress in science and technology and the country was ready to share their experiences and knowledge.
President of Iran Dr Ebrahim Raisi conveying best regards from the people and the Supreme Leader of Iran to the people of Pakistan said the great people of Pakistan had always been supporting the oppressed people of various areas of the world specially the people of Gaza and had always been defending Islam and raising their voice for the freedom of Quds Al-Sharif.
He believed that today people in different parts of the world were in pain due to current situation in Palestine. At the same time, he said the international organization such as the United Nations (UN) and UN Security Council who claimed to support human rights, could not deliver their core responsibility.
President Raisi emphasized that the people belonging to all religions across the world including that of Iran and Pakistan were calling for an end to the oppression and barbarism against the people of Palestine.
The Iranian President believed that the position adopted by the people around the world and by the Palestinian resistance will surely be realized one day.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended Iran’s robust stand for the Muslims of Gaza and the barbarism being committed against them, saying that Pakistan in this regard also fully support the oppressed people of Gaza.
He said the resolution of the UN Security Council with respect to Palestine was being violated. He regretted that over 35000 people had so far been martyred in Palestine.
PM Shehbaz also called for raising voice at various international forums including Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) till complete ceasefire in Gaza.
At the same time, the prime minister said the Kashmir valley had also been turned to red by the blood of the oppressed Kashmiris. He believed that Kashmir will also be liberated soon.
The prime minister thanked the Iranian President for visiting Pakistan saying that he was the first head of state of any country who visited Pakistan after general elections held in February 2024.
He said both Iran and Pakistan enjoyed very close and brotherly relations which spanned over centuries.
PM Shehbaz said the two countries enjoyed historic relations with deep rooted people to people bonds and similarities in religion and culture.
He stressed that these close and brotherly relations should be strengthened and promoted for mutual benefit as well as development and prosperity in the region.
Earlier, President Raisi was given a guard of honour as he arrived at the PM House to meet Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, along with his high-powered delegation.
President Raisi landed in the federal capital earlier in the morning for a three-day official visit accompanied by his spouse and a delegation comprising ministers and businessmen.
PM Shehbaz welcomed the visiting dignitary on his arrival at the venue of the formal welcome ceremony.
During the three-day visit, President Raisi will also meet the President and the Chairman of Senate and Speaker of National Assembly. He will also visit Lahore and Karachi and meet with the provincial leadership.
Besides discussing regional and global developments, the two sides will have a wide-ranging agenda to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran ties and enhance cooperation in diverse fields including trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, and people-to-people contacts.