Pakistan, Iran agree to accelerate agricultural trade

Pakistan and Iran agreed on Tuesday to enhance agriculture trade between the two countries, the Ministry for National Food Security & Research said in a statement.

The development comes as Food minister Rana Tanveer Hussain chaired a high-level meeting with Minister of Agriculture Jihad of Iran, Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh, to review progress on bilateral agricultural cooperation and explore new avenues for enhancing trade between the two neighboring countries, the ministry said.

“The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration in agriculture, livestock, food security, agricultural research, and trade facilitation.

“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening economic ties and translating existing agreements into tangible outcomes for the benefit of farmers, traders, and consumers in both countries.”

During the discussions, Rana Tanveer Hussain recalled his official visit to Iran in 2025, during which both countries agreed to expand bilateral trade in key agricultural commodities. He noted that Iran had expressed interest in importing Pakistani rice, mangoes, and meat to meet its growing domestic demand. The minister emphasised that Pakistan possesses significant potential in agricultural production and is fully capable of supplying high-quality products to the Iranian market.

The Iranian minister highlighted Iran’s intention to import meat from Pakistan and stated that Pakistan has the capacity to fulfill up to 60% of Iran’s total meat import requirements. He expressed confidence in the quality and standards of Pakistani livestock products and underscored the importance of establishing efficient trade mechanisms to ensure uninterrupted supplies, according to the ministry statement.

“Both ministers reviewed the progress made under the joint understandings reached during previous engagements and agreed that the commitments reflected in the joint communiqué would be implemented within the next two months. They directed relevant authorities to expedite procedural requirements and remove bottlenecks hindering trade growth.”

The Iranian minister appreciated Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace and stability and thanked the Government of Pakistan for facilitating efforts aimed at strengthening regional understanding and cooperation.

The meeting also reviewed the status of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Working Committee on Agriculture. The Iranian minister noted that the committee had already been constituted and stressed that the time had come to make it fully functional and active so that agreed targets could be achieved within stipulated timelines. Both sides agreed to hold regular meetings of the committee and establish effective coordination mechanisms between technical experts and relevant institutions.

Hussain emphasised that enhanced agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and Iran would contribute significantly to regional food security, increased investment, technology transfer, and sustainable economic growth. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating bilateral trade and strengthening institutional linkages in the agriculture and livestock sectors.

The two ministers expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Iran relations and agreed to continue close cooperation to unlock the full potential of agricultural trade, promote private-sector engagement, and enhance connectivity between the two countries.