Coal energy, dairy farming: Iran, Pakistan can launch joint ventures: envoy

Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, Mashallah Shakari, has said that Iran has already built a portion of the gas pipeline to the border with Pakistan, and the amount of gas to be supplied to Pakistan would be enough to get rid of the energy crisis.
While speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday, he said that the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline would create a peaceful atmosphere in the region and would also promote people to people contact, social contract, tourism and economy of both countries. Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline has great geo-political value and it is bound to bring industrial revolution in Pakistan, he added.
Mohammad Hossain Bani Asadi, Iranian Consul General in Lahore, other office bearers of the Lahore Chamber were also present on the occasion. The Ambassador said that Iran and Pakistan can launch joint ventures in coal energy, dairy farming and other sectors. He said that there are strong fraternal ties between Pakistan and Iran which are strengthening with the passage of time.
Talking about Pak-Iran trade relation, the Ambassador said that Pakistan's businessmen should avail Iranian expertise as both Iran and Pakistan have great potential for enhancing economic co-operation among the business communities of the two countries. The exchange of business delegations could pave the way for exploring areas of common interest. Iran would provide technical and all other kinds of assistance to Pakistan to overcome energy crisis, he added.
Shakari expressed hope that industrial exchange program would help promote trade relations. He said that Iran is willing to import rice, meat, fruits and many other items from Pakistan, adding that Iran and Punjab government were going to set up slaughterhouses in Lahore. He said that Iran has made tremendous progress in various sectors and there is a vast scope of co-operation in energy sector. Elaborating the point, he said that Iran could also help Pakistan in producing electricity from water, coal, air and solar options.
He said that te Ummah must be united to overcome the challenges of world powers. There are centuries-old civilisation, historical and cultural relations between Pakistan and Iran. Both countries should enhance further co-operation in trade, industry and other sectors. He said that Allama Iqbal is a great philosopher poet and Iranian nation seeks guidance from his teachings.
The LCCI President congratulated the Iranian Ambassador for taking Pakistan-Iran relations to new heights and said that the business communities of both countries have yet to realise their full potential. Both countries have large domestic markets and unique geo-strategic competitive advantage. He gave a number of proposals as to how both brotherly countries could enhance their bilateral trade and the volume of two-way business.
Irfan Qaiser said that he was optimistic about a great future for comprehensive and strategic relations between the two countries. He said that the large number of marvellous initiatives taken in the recent years have given a new meaning to Pak-Iran relations. He said that Pak Iran gas pipeline project, supply of electricity and offer to help Pakistan tackle its growing energy crisis and in the starting of Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul train service would go a long way.
There is no doubt that both sides consistently managed to maintain a bilateral trade over one billion dollars mark. However, this is far below the true trade potential exists in both the sides. "I strongly believe that we have a potential to increase our bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2015. Facilitating bilateral trade in local currencies can be instrumental in seriously improving two-way trade. China and Russia have already started trade in their local currencies. Barter trade should also be actively facilitated since it can be highly efficient mode of buying and selling. "It is high time that we also put in place such mechanisms," he added.