News
Friday, September 09, 2011
Gilani for expediting import of gas, power from Iran* Prime minister says Pakistan has decided to improve relations with its neighbours
* Salehi says Iranian part of gas pipeline will be completed by next year
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday emphasised the need for expediting the projects of gas pipeline and import of 1,000MW electricity from Iran to Pakistan.
The prime minister was talking to Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Akbar Salehi, who called on him on Thursday.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on a whole gamut of Pak-Iran relations spreading over trade, energy, communications, rationalisation of tariff and combating terrorism, which posed grave dangers to the security, economic advancement not only for the two countries but also for the entire region.
The Iranian foreign minister informed the prime minister that Iranian part of the gas pipeline would be completed by the middle of next year. About the export of 1,000MW electricity, he said that Iran could export the electricity even now if it could be connected with the grid system of Pakistan.
The prime minister said that Pakistan had also embarked upon improving its relations with its neighbours because if a country had good relations with its neighbours it did not need support from the countries situated far beyond.
It is in pursuance of this paradigm shift that Pakistan had been reaching out to its neighbouring countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, India, China, Russia and Central Asian Republics to improve its relations in qualitative terms, he said, adding that the response was extremely encouraging.
The Iranian foreign minister said that Iran was ready to help Pakistan in all possible ways because Iran was a reliable friend, a neighbour and considered Pakistan’s stability, security and prosperity as Iran’s own security, stability and prosperity.
Gilani said that Joint Economic Ministerial Commission of the two countries should meet frequently to ensure the follow-up and also timely implementation of the decisions taken by the two countries at various levels by the respective governments’ officials.
It was also decided in the meeting to create an investment fund to encourage the private sector in particular to undertake investment in the two countries.
Pakistan also agreed to allow the Iranian government to open up banks in Pakistan to facilitate the business community to play their role in the development of their economies. It was also decided to rationalise the tariff regime between the two countries to pick up trade and curb smuggling. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk