Press TV - Iran�s media say the country�s private carrier Mahan Air plans to establish a direct flight route between Tehran and Pakistan�s northern city of Lahore.

The two-way route that would be launched on 18 December 2017 could help further promote economic ties between Iran and Pakistan, according to a report by IRNA news agency.

Mahan Air planes would shuttle between Tehran and Pakistan�s second largest city after Karachi on Mondays and Thursdays, the report added.

There is currently one direct flight route to Lahore from Iran�s northeastern city of Mashhad.� The route through which a plane flies between the two cities once every week is operated by Iran�s Taban Air.

Mahan Air is also preparing to launch its own flight route between Lahore and Mashhad � Iran�s second largest city after capital Tehran and the biggest pilgrimage city in the Shia world. The airline has already conducted a trial flight to the same effect, IRNA added in its report on the issue.

Another Iranian private airline � Kish Air � flies a plane once every week between Tehran and Pakistan�s capital Islamabad.� The route was made operational this past September.

Iran�s leading carrier airline � Iran Air � also flies a plane once every Thursday between Tehran and Pakistan�s southern port city of Karachi.

Each year, thousands from Pakistan visit Iran on tourism trips as well as pilgrimages to Mashhad where the shrine of Imam Reza (AS) � the eighth Imam in the Shia world � is located, the report added.

The population of Shias in Pakistan is estimated to be at least 16 million from a total of above 190 million.