Iran, Pakistan trade to reach $1b

Trade between Iran and Pakistan will reach $1 billion by next year, Pakistan's ambassador to Iran said here on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference on the occasion of Pakistan Independence Day celebrations, Muhammad Bux Abbasi stated the two countries' policies are not distant as some say and the necessary proximity of views between the two countries has developed, IRIB reported.

"Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has visited Iran two times and most of Pakistan's ministers are acquainted with Iranian officials," Abbasi noted.

A number of ministers from Pakistan have also visited Iran and exchanged views with their Iranian counterparts to expand Pak-Iran bilateral relations in various fields, he added.

Also, in the trilateral meeting among Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan in Tehran in May issues such as terrorism and drug smuggling were reviewed, he said. 

Referring to the Iran-Pakistan growing economic relations, Abbasi underscored the need of visits of industrialists and setting-up of joint ventures between the two countries.

The ambassador said that Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline would lay solid foundation for durable economic cooperation.

The ambassador pointed out, "Religion, common culture and a shared borderline are three important factors that can consolidate relations between the two nations, and these three features will not alter with a change in governments."