“Pakistan and Iran reaffirm commitment to achieving $10 billion bilateral trade target, enhancing border commerce, and expanding cooperation in mining and value-added industries.”
ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, August 5, 2026 (WNP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding fraternal relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran as he received a six-member Iranian delegation led by Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Seyyed Muhammad Atabak in Islamabad.
Welcoming the delegation, the Prime Minister said Pakistan attaches great importance to its ties with its “best neighbouring brotherly country,” Iran, and reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to promoting regional peace through sincere diplomatic efforts.
Referring to his recent discussions with Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, the Prime Minister said the two leaders had held productive talks on advancing regional peace and expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade. He expressed confidence that sustained efforts by both governments would help achieve the mutually agreed US$10 billion bilateral trade target.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that increased trade—especially in food, agricultural commodities, and value-added products—would deliver significant economic benefits to both countries.
During the meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen cross-border trade by enhancing facilities at border crossings, extending border operations to a 24-hour regime, improving logistics infrastructure, and harmonizing customs procedures to facilitate smoother trade flows.
The discussions also focused on expanding cooperation in the mining sector, particularly in the processing and value addition of precious stones and minerals, with both sides expressing a shared interest in developing mutually beneficial industrial partnerships.
The Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei and President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, reaffirming Pakistan’s desire to further deepen bilateral relations.
Speaking on the occasion, Iranian Minister Seyyed Muhammad Atabak thanked the Government and people of Pakistan for their warm hospitality and praised Pakistan’s sincere diplomatic efforts for regional peace, as well as its solidarity with Iran.
He reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to expanding economic and commercial ties with Pakistan and noted that technical-level negotiations on a Pakistan-Iran Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are currently underway.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Jam Kamal Khan, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistants to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, Haroon Akhtar, Talha Burki, and senior officials from relevant ministries and departments.
