Pakistani province seeking to boost exports to Iran

Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sought preferential market access to Iran because its locally manufactured products are inaccessible despite proximity of borders. Speaking in a meeting with Iranian Consul General in Peshawar Hassan Darvishvand on Friday, Afan Aziz, president of CCI, proposed preferential market access for the KP businessmen. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa traders did not have access to Iranian markets while the same were flooded with Indian products. He suggested that KP traders should be provided easy access to Iranian markets. He also proposed revival of rail system to facilitate trade between the two sides. Aziz said that both sides could play a vital role in improving the banking sector to promote trade between the two countries. "Trade is impossible without a good banking system," said Aziz, adding that traders were finding it very difficult to transact through Dubai in absence of Iranian banks operation. Aziz said traditional trade routes between the two countries had become unviable, and added that these should be revived. Aziz also proposed exchange of trade delegations and exhibitions for promotion of mutual trade. He added that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could benefit from Iran expertise in gas exploration.