Punjab urges wider ties with Iran

Speaking at a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Raza Haghighian in Lahore, Shahbaz Sharif said that due to the longstanding ties spanning over centuries, the people of the two countries are bound together in strong bonds of love and brotherhood which are strengthening with the passage of time. He said that in the changing economic scenario of the 21st century, Iran and Pakistan can take benefit from each other's industrial and agriculture development through barter trade system. The prospects of promoting bilateral cooperation between Iran and Punjab province in different sectors were discussed in detail during the meeting. The Chief Minister reminded that Iran and Pakistan share a similar stance over regional and international issues, and stressed that the relations between the two countries are a shining example of mutual respect and friendship. He said that being the members of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Organization of Developing Eight Countries (D-8) and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Iran and Pakistan should benefit from each other's' experience and skills in economic and trade sectors in the interest of the progress and development of the two countries. He said that there are vast opportunities of investment in energy and other sectors in Punjab and Iranian investors should benefit from them. He expressed his satisfaction over the fact that Iran has displayed remarkable performance in tourism, automobile industry, livestock, agriculture, transport, information technology and heavy engineering sectors, and added that Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and the oil rich Persian Gulf States should evolve a joint strategy for peace and prosperity in the region. Shahbaz Sharif further said that the Punjab government is transforming its infrastructure of public welfare to international standard with foreign cooperation and besides launching of the most modern system of solid waste management in Lahore with the cooperation of brotherly Islamic country of Turkey, revolutionary changes are also been introduced in public transport sector. He said that a high level joint committee has been set up under the chairmanship of Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa for promoting economic cooperation with Iran so that Punjab could also make progress by benefitting from Iranian expertise and experience. Iranian Consul General in Lahore Muhammad Hussain Bani Asadi as well as Pakistan's Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Special Assistant Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Secretary Agriculture, Vice Chairman of Punjab Investment Board and senior officers were also present at the meeting.