Businessmen invited to 'Aleeshan Pakistan' expo in Tehran

Pakistan Ambassador to Iran Asif Khan Durrani has invited the Pakistani businessmen to participate in the exhibition "Aleeshan Pakistan" being held from March 4 to 7 in Tehran. He was talking to President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Abdul Basit here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Saturday.
He said that participation in "Aleeshan Pakistan" would provide Pakistani businessmen an opportunity to establish new contacts with their Iranian counterparts that are essential to boost two-way trade. The Ambassador said that through exploiting the trade & investment opportunities, mutual trade volume could easily touch the new heights.
Iranian President and Prime Minister of Pakistan had already agreed to boost trade to $5 billion. He said there was a tremendous scope for strengthening the trade & economic ties as both countries were big markets with joint population of 280 million people. He said unavailability of banking channel was one of the biggest reasons of limited trade between the two countries.
He said a lot of work on Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline project had already been done, adding after completion of the project enough gas would be available to cater Pakistani needs. While inviting the delegation of Pakistan businessmen to Iran, the Ambassador said Pakistani Embassy in Iran would provide maximum support and facilities to the delegation members.
LCCI President Abdul Basit said mutual trade was at the lowest level of the decade. During the year 2015 Pakistani imports and exporters from and to Iran were US $261 million and $32 million respectively, he added. He said those statistics did not match the existing potential therefore both countries should focus that particular issue, adding that mutual trade could easily increase to $1 billion. He said banking channels between Pakistan and Iran should be started immediately to overcome the smuggling issues faced by both the countries.
He said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a huge opportunity for the both countries, adding Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan had already said that Iran wanted to be part of that project.
Former LCCI president Ijaz Butt urged the private sectors of the two countries to enhance cooperation in defence sector through joint ventures. Former president Syed Mohsin Raza Bukhari said those issues should be tackled on priority that was hampering the trade, adding Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project should be completed at any cost as it would help Pakistan to get rid of the energy crisis.
Former LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari said balance of trade was not only low but was also heavily in the favour of Iran. "There must be win-win situation for the both countries." He said the private sector should be given representation in the government delegations, and also called for the provision of basic facilities at the crossing points.