TEHRAN, Iran, Apr. 22
Trend:
Iran can be a great transit hub between Pakistan to CIS countries, the head of the Iran-Pakistan joint Chamber of Commerce said.
Pakistan is a rich country in terms of agriculture, tropical fruits, and meat, the head of the Iran-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce, Mahmoud Tohidast, referring to Pakistan's capacity to transit goods through Iran to CIS countries told Trend.
"Pakistan has a good capacity in terms of transit of goods to Central Asia. Pakistani goods can be transited to Central Asia and Turkey via Iran`s Mirjavah border," he said.
Tohidast pointed to the potential for developing trade relations between the two countries.
"There are several opportunities to boost the trade relations, but given that Sistan and Baluchestan province is one of the most deprived provinces in terms of roads and transportation, these opportunities are being lost,” he said.
Referring to the Indian`s investment in Chabahar port he says that India selects Chabahar to send its goods to Central Asia.
“The country must make double efforts to develop the roads and rail of Sistan and Baluchistan province in order to increase the speed of the country's transit network,” he said.
He went on to note that Pakistan has a common border with Iran from the Mirjavah border to the sea of Oman with high potential along these borders.
“Sistan and Baluchistan province is a vast province and any corner of its joint border with Pakistan can be made an official border. For reaching this purpose, we must also think about the road and rail infrastructure of the province,” he said.
He stressed that delay in the construction of the Zahedan-Milak or Chabahar-Zahedan railways has stagnated trade.
Pakistan opened a new border crossing point with Iran to bolster economic and trade exchanges, according to local media.
The newly opened Pishin-Mand border was the third crossing point after Taftan and Gabd. The two countries inaugurated the Rimadan-Gabd border gateway in December last year, whereas the Taftan border has been operational for decades.