Tazeen Akhtar
22 April 2024 was historic day in Pakistan and Iran relations and cooperation in a sense that both countries signed 8 accords of strengthening and enhancing the mutual ties in various sectors and in this way moved forward to cementing the bilateral economic partnership that was being expected for long especially since March 2016 when the former President of Iran Dr Hassan Rouhani visited Pakistan but the visit was disturbed by the abrupt revelation of arrest of Indian agent Kulphushan Yadev.
Both countries moved forward forgetting the past signing agreements of cooperation in the fields of trade, science technology, agriculture, health, culture, and judicial matters.The documents were signed between the two countries on the occasion of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s three-day official visit to Pakistan.The signing ceremony also marked the ratification of a security cooperation agreement between the governments of two countries.
Both sides agreed to increase the volume of bilateral trade to 10 billions U.S. Dollars in next 5 years.
Unfortunately, the import of Petrol, Diesel, Fuel gas and Electricity was not on the cards that is needed by Pakistan more than anything else. People of Pakistan were looking forward to listen some development in this regard but not a single word was uttered in the reports of the visit.
Here is the detail of 8 Agreements signed on 22 April – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President Raisi witnessed the ceremony as the representatives from both sides, signed the documents.
1- The two countries signed an MoU on the Establishment of the Rimdan-Gabd Joint Free/Special Zone. The memorandum was inked by Secretary Board of Investment Ambreen Iftikhar and Iranian Advisor to President and Secretary of the Supreme Council of Free Trade Industrial and Special Economic Zones Hojjatollah Abdolmaleki.
2- The MoU on Mutual Recognition of the Standard of Iran and Pakistan, was signed by Minister of Science and Technology Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Iranian Minister of Road and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash.
3- An MoU on Cooperation between the Ministry of Cooperative Labour and Social Welfare of Iran and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistani and Human Resources Development of Pakistan was also signed by Minister of Overseas Pakistani Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Iranian Minister of Road and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash.
4- Minister of Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar and Iranian Minister of Justice Amin Hossein Rahimi inked an agreement on Judicial Assistance in Civil Matters between Iran and Pakistan.
5- Agreement of Cooperation on Animal Hygiene and Health. The document was signed by Minister of National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and Iranian Minister of Agriculture Jihad Mohammad Ali Nikhakht.
6- Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) in the Field of Quarantine and Phytosanitary was also inked by Minister of National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and Iran’s Minister of Agriculture Jihad Mohammad Ali Nikbakht.
7- MoU for Legal Cooperation between the Ministry of Justice of Iran and the Ministry of Law and Justice of Pakistan. Minister of Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar and his Iranian counterpart Amin Hossein Rahimi signed the memorandum.
8- MoU between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan and Organization of Cinema and Audiovisual Affairs of Iran was inked to promote film exchange and cinema cooperation between the two countries. The document was signed by Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili.
Meeting with Prime Minister and Team
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President H.E. Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi met at delegation level in the Prime Minister house where the diginitray was welcomed warmly and presented guard of honor on arrival. Ministers and senior officials from both sides were present in the meeting.
The two leaders discussed the entire range of bilateral relations and exchanged views on important regional and global developments.The leaders reaffirmed commitment to expand wide-ranging bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, energy, connectivity, culture and people-to-people contacts.They also agreed to cooperate in developing joint approaches to confront common challenges including the threat of terrorism.
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Unequivocal Condemnation of Israel
President Raisi and the Prime Minister expressed strong and unequivocal condemnation of the indiscriminate use of force by Israeli occupation authorities in Gaza for over seven months and reiterated the call for international efforts to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, lifting of the siege and humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza.
The Presidents of both countries also observed the same in their separate meeting.President Asif Ali Zardari assured that Pakistan would consistently and unequivocally support the Palestinian cause.They reiterated the need for enhanced international endeavours to bring an end to Israeli suppression of the people of Gaza and for enhanced humanitarian relief and assistance.The President of Iran appreciated Pakistan’s consistent support for their Palestinian brethren during the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir
The Prime Minister lauded the Iranian leadership, especially Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for Iran’s unequivocal and principled support for the Kashmiri people and their legitimate rights. Kashmir issue came under discussion of both Presidents’ meeting as well.The President of Pakistan, in his meeting, appreciated Iran’s principled stance and its consistent support to the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and their right to self-determination.
Meeting with President Zardari
President Asif Ali Zardari thanked Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi for being the first Head of State to visit Pakistan after the general elections, which reflected the deep personal commitment of the Iranian President to Pakistan. The President of Iran, Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, emphasized the need for further expanding and consolidating bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest. He said that the interest of the two brotherly countries called for further cementing economic, trade and cultural relations. He highlighted that both countries had enormous potential to increase bilateral trade to the level of $10 billion.
Chairman Senate
