Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is scheduled to visit Pakistan soon in an effort to strengthen bilateral ties, an official said.
Aaqai Ali Osat Hashemi, the governor of Sistan and Baluchestan province made the announcement during a meeting with Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch in Quetta, Dawn online reported Saturday.

The governor arrived to hold talks with the provincial government leaders on boosting border trade, investment and trade relations and other issues.

Hashemi said Iran wanted to improve relations with Pakistan, ignoring political pressures.

"Tehran is making serious efforts in this direction," he said and urged Islamabad to take effective reciprocal steps.

Referring to the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline, he said authorities had discussed the project in Islamabad last month.

"Things are moving in right direction," Hashemi said.

He also said that Iran wanted to supply electricity and gas to Balochistan and invited Malik to visit Tehran.

Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch thanked Iran for supplying 70 MW electricity to Gwadar district and said 40 MW could be added to the system.

He requested the Iranian governor to speed up the process of supplying 100 MW to Gwadar and 1,000 MW to Balochistan, which would resolve energy crisis in the province.

He suggested measures to boost trade between Iran and Balochistan and said that Pakistan's Federal Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafiq had announced that a cargo train would be run between Quetta and Zahedan to facilitate traders of both countries.

By Business Standard

 

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