Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to increasing bilateral trade to US$10 billion during the 10th session of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Trade Committee (JTC) held in Islamabad.
Addressing the meeting, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan called for the early finalisation of the Pakistan-Iran Free Trade Agreement (FTA), saying that removing barriers related to border logistics, customs and cargo movement was essential to expanding trade.
He also stressed the importance of making joint border markets fully operational to promote economic activity and improve livelihoods in border communities.
Jam Kamal said the 10th JTC session would help elevate bilateral economic cooperation to a new level.
Co-chairing the meeting, Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Mohammad Atabak described Pakistan as a long-term strategic trade partner and expressed Iran’s interest in expanding commercial ties through the ports of Karachi and Gwadar.
Atabak said negotiations on the Pakistan-Iran Free Trade Agreement were progressing well and expressed confidence that the agreement would be finalised in the near future.