Pakistan-Iran Joint Trade Committee Meets, Reaffirms Commitment to Increase Bilateral Trade to $10 Billion

ISLAMABAD: The 10th Meeting of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Trade Committee (JTC), co-chaired by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Dr. Mohammad Atabak, was held in Islamabad, where both countries reaffirmed their commitment to increasing bilateral trade to $10 billion.

The meeting reviewed a wide range of issues aimed at strengthening economic cooperation, including trade, investment, border connectivity, logistics, customs, energy, and private sector collaboration.

Addressing the session, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan said that the time had come to transform the historic brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran into a strong economic partnership. He stressed the need to finalize the Pakistan-Iran Free Trade Agreement (FTA) at the earliest and emphasized the removal of barriers to border logistics, customs procedures, and cargo movement.

He said the establishment of joint border markets and the implementation of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) would significantly boost bilateral trade. He added that the private sectors of both countries were ready to expand commercial ties, while it was the responsibility of governments to provide a transparent, reliable, and business-friendly environment.

Jam Kamal Khan expressed confidence that the 10th JTC meeting would produce a practical roadmap to elevate economic cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

Iranian Minister Dr. Mohammad Atabak described Pakistan as Iran’s long-term strategic trade partner and expressed his country’s desire to expand regional trade and logistics cooperation through the ports of Karachi and Gwadar. He also voiced optimism that the Pakistan-Iran Free Trade Agreement would be concluded soon.

Dr. Atabak said that electricity trade and enhanced regional connectivity would create new economic opportunities for both countries.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Pakistan and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to promoting trade, investment, regional connectivity, and private sector cooperation, while further strengthening their long-term economic partnership.