Aiming to promote bilateral trade, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Iranian President Seyed Ibrahim Raisi jointly inaugurated the Mandpashin Border Assistance Market on Thursday.
The Mand-Pishin Border Sustenance Market is expected to provide a thriving platform to expand cross-border trade, promote economic development, and open new avenues of opportunity for local businesses.
It should be noted that this is one of the six border markets that have been built on the Pakistan-Iran border.
وزیراعظم شہباز شریف اور ایرانی صدر کی باڈر پر ملاقات اور منصوبوں کا افتتاحhttps://t.co/Q72KwToAFV
— PMLN (@pmln_org) May 18, 2023
The two leaders also planted a sapling in the premises of the border market as a gesture to further the bilateral relations between the two countries.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir, Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb. Apart from this, high officials of Pakistan and Iran were also present.
The Foreign Office said in a statement issued on Wednesday: “The joint inauguration is a manifestation of the strong commitment of Pakistan and Iran for the welfare of the residents of the neighboring provinces of Balochistan and Sistan and Baluchistan respectively.”
100MW electricity transmission line also inaugurated
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif along with the Iranian President also inaugurated the 100 MW Polan Gabad power transmission line project from Iran to Gwadar at Pashin crossing point on Pakistan-Iran border.
Aurangzeb said the project was pending since 2009 and was completed in a record time of four months under the leadership of Prime Minister Shahbaz.
He said that the project will provide development, trade, business and employment opportunities which will help the future prosperity of the people of Gwadar and Balochistan.
Additionally, Aurangzeb said that Prime Minister Shehbaz and the Iranian President will also jointly inaugurate the first 100 MW transmission line from Iran to meet the energy needs of Gwadar.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Iran Ebrahim Raisi will jointly inaugurate the first ever 100 MW transmission line from Iran to Gawadar to fulfill the energy needs of Gawadar. The project pending since 2009 completed in record time of four months under the leadership… pic.twitter.com/k1vKqALZJV
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) May 18, 2023
‘Stepping stone for greater cooperation’
Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed the importance of increasing cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, calling the energy projects and border markets “the lifeblood of Pak-Iran friendship.”
Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif made these remarks in a written interview sent to the bureau office of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) in Islamabad.
The prime minister believed that the Mand-Pishin border market and the Polan-Gabad power project were “strong manifestations” of this joint resolution.
He further said that border markets including Mandpishin will not only improve the socio-economic conditions of our border areas but also promote new opportunities for local businesses. “They will also serve as a stepping stone for greater cooperation between our two countries, especially in the economic field,” the prime minister maintained.
Highlighting trade, he said there is a lot of scope and mutual will to realize our trade potential.
Both Pakistan and Iran are committed to achieving $5 billion annual trade volume. Enabling the barter trade mechanism is an important step in this regard.
