Khyber News

ISLAMABAD : Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Mir Israrullah Khan Zehri and Federal Minister for Capital Administration and Development, Nazar Mohammad Gondal, as special envoys of President Asif Ali Zardari, called on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday evening, says a press release received here today from Iran.

The Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research presented President Asif Ali Zardari’s letter to the Iranian President and conveyed the President’s warm greetings to him.

The Federal Minister for Capital Administration and Development Nazar Mohammad Gondal informed the Iranian President of President Zardari’s keen interest to promote trade relations with Iran particularly on the basis of barter trade exchanges. He said Pakistan is willing to offer 1 million tons high quality wheat to Iran on barter arrangement and get urea and fertilizer from Iran. He said the Pakistani delegation was ready to sign an agreement in this connection with Iran.

The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad welcomed the barter trade exchanges between the two countries adding that there was no limit to enhance barter trade with Pakistan. Describing Iran and Pakistan as two neighboring and brotherly countries, Ahmadinejad referred to vast potentials for cooperation between Iran and Pakistan and emphasized that these potentials should be fully exploited.

Ahmadinejad asked the Pakistani delegation to hold meetings with Iranian Commerce and Oil Ministers to further discuss the subject of barter trade and sale of Pakistani wheat to Iran in order to finalize the deal. He said he would ask the two Ministers to expedite the signing of agreement. 

Saying that Iran’s all achievements and capacities also belong to the Pakistani nation, the Iranian chief executive added “We consider Pakistan’s progress as our own progress”. He said Iran was willing to offer Pakistan its achievements in the scientific and technology fields while benefiting from the Pakistani products.

 

The Iranian President said that barter trade is the best means of trade exchanges reiterating his country’s desire to use this mode in trade exchanges with Pakistan. He said that both Iran and Pakistan would benefit from such an arrangement depriving the western banks of gaining any profit out of such dealings..

 

Referring to Iran’s nearly $ 80 billion annual imports,. Ahmadinejad said Iran prefers to get as much as of its imports from Pakistan. He said the profit would go to our Pakistani friends. The Iranian President also announced his country’s willingness to export energy and electricity to Pakistan.

 

The Iranian President thanked President Zardari for his letter adding that he agreed with all its content. He also asked the special envoys to convey his warm greetings to President Zardari and the government and people of Pakistan.