It’s time to find out ways to enhance Pak-Iran bilateral trade: PM

TEHRAN: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said it was time that both Pakistan and Iran should find out ways and means to enhance their bilateral trade to exploit the existing potential.

Addressing the business community of Pakistan and Iran here during his two-day official visit to Iran, the prime minister said the countries, which had been doing well in the economic sector like China, South East Asia and ASEAN nations, had a higher proportion of bilateral trade with their neighbouring countries.

But unfortunately, Pakistan, Iran, India and Afghanistan had a very low proportion of bilateral trade with the neighboring countries, he added.

He said Iran being a nation of 80 million people and Pakistan with 210 million population should have been big economies but due to variety of reasons the two countries had not been able to exploit the trade potential.

Irrespective of the fact that Iran had been facing sanctions and Pakistan was also going through difficult period, the two countries should start developing bilateral trade, he added.

He told the business community that only 10 percent of rice was exported directly from Pakistan and the rest was done indirectly.

He said given the prevailing situation, both the countries should start mulling to find out ways and means to enhance the bilateral trade.

The prime minister also shared his experience of visiting the shrine of Hazrat Imam Raza (AS) in Mashhad on Sunday.

Later, the prime minister along with the his economic team responded to the questions from the audience.