Iran-Pakistan efforts aimed at further boosting bilateral ties

Addressing the 77th ceremony marking Pakistan National Day, he said, 'We celebrate March 23 as a historic day, a day when Pakistan Resolution was approved.”

On such a day, Muslim nation of Southeast Asia concluded a treaty to create an independent homeland, a place to live on the basis of their ideals, religious, cultural and intellectual beliefs, he said.

“Pakistan is one of the newly-emerged markets and its economy is experiencing a growth of over four percent and Iranian and Pakistani leaders are promoting their relations,” IRNA quoted Durrani as saying.

Iran and Pakistan’s ties date back to seven decades ago and these relations have been further strengthened in the process of time, he said, noting that bilateral ties are based on interests, traditions and Islamic beliefs.

“I am honorable to say that Iran and Pakistan have always stood alongside each other,” the ambassador said, noting that in political field, they have very friendly ties.

Presidents of Senate and National Assembly of Pakistan as well as trade minister will have separate visits from Tehran in the current month and not to mention that a major delegation from National Defense University will travel to Iran to forge closer interaction with their counterparts, he said.

Describing President Hassan Rouhani’s last month trip to Pakistan as a move to further strengthen bilateral relations, Durrani said that leaders of the two countries underlined accelerating implementation of earlier agreements, including memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on electricity and Iran-Pakistan gas pipelines as creating effective banking channels.

During the visit, it was recommended mutual trade be boosted to five billion dollars in the coming four years.