Iran shows interest in CPEC, energy supplies to Pakistan

[Blackmoon]

ISLAMABAD: Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan, Mehdi Honardoust on Friday said his country can help develop the economy of Pakistan through energy supply and construction of roads, railways, dams, etc.
He said bilateral trade would be boosted after the banking problems were resolved. Honardoust said while talking to President FPCCI Abdul Rauf Alam, VP FPCCI Zafar Bakhtwari, former presidents ICCI Khalid Jaweed, Ijaz Abbasi, Chairman Coordination FPCCI Malik Sohail and others were also present on the occasion.

The ambassador said that Iran was interested to participate in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which was one of the greatest projects in the history of the region. Pakistani textiles, rice, surgical goods, sports goods, and agricultural products were in great demand in Iran, he informed. He claimed that Iranian gas was the cheapest, fastest and most dependable source of energy for Pakistan, which should be initiated as soon as Iran completed its side of the pipeline by spending two billion dollars.

Many countries including China, India, Turkey, Japan, and South Korea continued to buy energy from Iran during and after sanctions, he added FPCCI President Abdul Rauf Alam said that Pakistan and Iran had decided to increase annual trade volumes to $5 billion by 2021 for which efforts were needed.

He said that Pakistan could increase electricity imports from Iran, for which Tehran should reduce the price to make it competitive and attractive. "Additional land routes for trade on our border, trade exhibitions, industrial and agricultural cooperation, and mutual recognition of standards will boost trade,” said the FPCCI president. Alam said that Gwadar and Chabahar Ports were not rivals, but would supplement each other, making the region the centre of maritime trade.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/149082-Iran-shows-interest-in-CPEC-energy-supplies-to-Pakistan