IRNA � Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Pakistan late Sunday on an official three-day visit for talks with the country�s officials.


Upon arrival in Benazir Bhutto International Airport, he was welcomed by director general of Pakistani Foreign Ministry�s Asia-Pacific affairs and Iran�s Ambassador in Islamabad Mehdi Honardoust.

Zarif, heading a politico-economic delegation, is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart Khawaja Asif.

During his stay in Islamabad, Zarif is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, his Pakistani counterpart Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal. He will also hold meeting with Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Speaker of National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

The Iranian foreign minister is also scheduled to give a lecture on 70 Years of Pakistan-Iran Relations and Future Prospects on Monday at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad.

Preparing necessary grounds for promotion of economic and commercial relations, especially between the two countries� private sectors, has been mentioned among the objectives behind Zarif�s trip to the neighboring state.

He will leave for Karachi on March 13 along with his delegation, where he will participate in a meeting of Iran-Pakistan joint economic forum and will also pay a visit to the mausoleum of founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Quaid-e-Azam).
A 30-member business delegation comprising representatives of economic, trade and business sectors will accompany Iran's top diplomat during his stay in Pakistan.