- PM Shehbaz, President Pezeshkian to hold bilateral talks.
- Two sides to sign MoUs during delegation-level meetings.
- Pezeshkian lauds Pakistan’s support in meeting with FM Dar.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday received Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the PM House with the visiting dignitary being presented with a guard of honour.
PM Shehbaz and President Pezeshkian will now hold a bilateral meeting and will lead their respective sides in the scheduled delegation-level talks.
The two sides are expected to sign memorandum of understandings (MoUs) for cooperation in various areas which will be followed by a joint presser by PM Shehbaz and President Pezeshkian.
The Iranian president — who was welcomed in Lahore by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif — touched down in Pakistan on his maiden visit on Saturday and is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including senior ministers and other high-ranking officials.
A day earlier, the dignitary, who is visiting the country on PM Shehbaz’s invitation, paid a visit to the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal where he received a guard of honour from smartly turned-out personnel of the armed forces.
President Pezeshkian, while speaking to the media before departing from Iran, expressed hope that bilateral trade volume could be raised to $10 billion.
He also highlighted Iran’s interest in active participation in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key component of the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative.
Pezeshkian is the second Iranian president to visit Pakistan within two years. The visit was originally scheduled for the final week of July.
In April 2024, Ebrahim Raisi paid a three-day official visit to Pakistan — just a month before his death in a helicopter crash.
FM Dar reiterates commitment to brotherly ties
Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as per a statement issued by the Foreign Office, called on President Pezeshkian on Sunday and reaffirmed Pakistan’s deep commitment to its historic and brotherly ties with Iran, emphasising their strong foundations in shared history, common cultural heritage, faith, and mutual respect.
Meanwhile, the visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan’s support and reaffirmed Iran’s resolve to improving bilateral collaboration in various areas of shared interest.
He also looked forward to meaningful discussions with Pakistani leaders to further reinforce the political and economic ties between the two friendly nations.
Talking to media later, DPM and FM Dar reiterated that Pakistan stood with its brotherly country Iran and would continue to support it in trade, economic and other fields.
He also welcomed the Iranian president’s statement which resonated with the vision of the prime minister to take the trade volume between the two countries to $10 billion.
“It is very heart-warming and a need of the hour to expand the economic activities by building economic coordination together,” he emphasised.
‘Bilateral trade could exceed $5bn to $8bn’
Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan met Iranian Minister for Industry, Mines and Trade, Mohammad Atabak, on the sidelines of President Pezeshkian’s official visit, according to an official statement issued on Sunday.
The high-level discussion marked a renewed commitment from both sides to accelerate trade, remove border bottlenecks, and build trust-based partnerships across priority sectors.
The two ministers acknowledged the historic depth of Pakistan-Iran relations, expressing that recent regional and global developments have pushed both nations closer together.
Minister Atabak praised the Pakistani government’s proactive role in facilitating bilateral trade progress and said: “Without the rapid engagement and determination from you and your team, we wouldn’t have reached this stage. The momentum we’ve built must now be translated into structured trade outcomes.”
Jam Kamal echoed similar sentiments, noting that both governments, as well as the private sector, have shown strong will and passion to work together.
“There’s a moment in diplomacy when the iron is hot — and this is that moment. We must act swiftly. Delays only complicate things,” he said.
He emphasised that Pakistan was ready to deepen its economic relationship with Iran through structured channels like the Joint Economic Commission (JEC), regular B2B exchanges, and sector-focused delegations.
Both ministers agreed on the importance of identifying specific sectors such as agriculture, livestock, services, energy, and cross-border logistics for future collaboration.
Jam Kamal suggested organising targeted trade delegations that include representatives from federal and provincial chambers of commerce, enabling focused discussions on market access and regulatory facilitation.
“We’ve done this model successfully in Belarus and elsewhere,” he added. “Let’s do the same for Iran, starting with sectors that show the greatest potential for mutual benefit.”
The ministers also expressed a shared commitment to increasing the use of existing trade corridors and border facilities. Emphasis was placed on maximising the potential of neighbourhood trade, with Jam Kamal highlighting how ASEAN countries have benefited enormously by trading within their region.
“Geography is an advantage. Pakistan and Iran must utilise this discount of distance. If we don’t, we lose both time and cost benefits,” he stated.
Jam Kamal envisioned that, if fully leveraged, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran could easily exceed $5–8 billion annually in the coming years. He noted that beyond bilateral gains, such connectivity could expand to Turkey, Central Asia, Russia, and even parts of the Middle East, creating an economic bloc of substantial power and resilience.
Mohammad Atabak supported the idea of holding a dedicated B2B day during every high-level visit and offered to bring Iranian business groups to Pakistan for in-depth meetings.
He also highlighted ongoing discussions about increasing Pakistani exports to Iran and encouraged swift follow-up on newly signed agreements.
“Traders and industrialists in both countries are ready. They trust each other. What they need now is a clear and consistent facilitation mechanism from our sides,” Atabak noted.
Reflecting on the human element of bilateral ties, both sides underscored the cultural and linguistic commonalities between the people of Pakistan and Iran.
Jam Kamal shared an anecdote about a meeting with the CEO of the Special Economic Free Zone who spoke in Balochi, emphasising the deep-rooted linkages between communities on both sides of the border.
“This isn’t just trade — it’s people-to-people connectivity. The familiarity and comfort zone between our merchants can be the strongest foundation for sustainable economic integration,” he added.
The ministers agreed to fast-track the next session of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Economic Commission, ensured participation from both public and private stakeholders, and prioritised border facilitation and trade logistics.
Both sides left the meeting with a message, “The time for action is now”.
With high-level political alignment and mutual trust, Pakistan and Iran appear poised to enter a new phase of strategic economic partnership that could reshape regional trade dynamics.
— With additional input from APP
