Iran can help Pakistan development through energy supply: Envoy

EghtesadOnline: Iran Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost has said that his country has the capability to help the development of Pakistan’s economy through energy supply and construction of roads, railways, dams and other areas.

News ID: ۷۶۹۳۴۰

10 September 2016

Iranian envoy said this while talking to Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Abdul Rauf Alam.

Honardoost said that Iranian gas is the cheapest, fastest and most dependable source of energy for Pakistan which should be initiated soon as Iran has completed its part of the pipeline by spending two billion dollars.

“Many countries including China, India, Turkey, Japan and South Korea have continued to buy energy from Iran during and after sanctions,” he added.
Mehdi Honardoost said Iran has the capability to help the development of the economy of Pakistan through energy supply and construction of roads, railways dams and other areas.

“At the same time, Pakistani textiles, rice, surgical goods, sports goods and agricultural products are in great demand in Iran,” he added.

“Bilateral trade will get a boost after resolution of problems regarding banking which would disappear soon,” ambassador added.

Iranian envoy said that Iran is interested to participate in the China-Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) which is one of the greatest project between Pakistan an China. CPEC is a mega project between the two countries under which China will invest $46 billion in Pakistan.

President FPCCI Abdul Rauf Alam said that Pakistan and Iran have already decided to increase annual trade volumes between the two countries to $5 billion by 2021 for which efforts are needed.

He said that Pakistan can increase electricity imports from Iran and the two sides need to discuss the price.

Rauf Alam further said that Gwadar and Chabahar Ports are not rivals but they would supplement each other making the region centre of maritime trade.