Pakistan Commerce Ministry has given a detailed briefing to the Commerce Minister on matters related to Iran. Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir was told that Pakistan exports rice, meat, paper, chemical and banana etc to Iran. A Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) was inked between Pakistan and Iran on September 1, 2006. However, no remarkable increase was witnessed in trade between the two countries.
The trade between the countries could not rise to the potential level mainly due to the international trade embargo on Iran, its repeated ban on Pakistan goods, high duties, ineffective financial mechanism, difficulties in getting Irani visa and huge visa fee.
Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir stated that Pakistan was keen to increase trade with Iran and every possible step would be taken to remove the bottlenecks in that regard.
The Minister further said that it was the incumbent government's top priority to promote trade with neighbouring countries. "Iran is Pakistan important neighbouring country and dialogue would be held at every level so that trade ties could be restored and promoted."
He said the trade volume of India and Turkey with Iran was far more than Pakistan and the government would leave no stone unturned to get access to Irani market.-PR