Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi are set to jointly inaugurate a border market and an electricity transmission line on Thursday. The inauguration will take place at a border crossing between Pakistan and Iran, with the aim of strengthening trade and connectivity between the two neighboring countries.
The border market, named the Mand-Pishin Border Sustenance Marketplace, is one of six markets planned along the Pakistan-Iran border. It is expected to provide a platform for increased cross-border trade, economic growth, and new business opportunities for local enterprises. The market’s establishment reflects the shared commitment to boosting bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran.
Additionally, the Polan-Gabd Electricity Transmission Line will be inaugurated during the same event. This transmission line will allow Pakistan to import an additional 100 megawatts of electricity from Iran, addressing the energy needs of households and businesses in the border region. The increased power supply is expected to contribute to the development and prosperity of the area.
The discussions for the inauguration and cooperation in trade and connectivity were preceded by a meeting between Vahid Jalalzadeh, chairman of Iran’s Commission of National Security and Foreign Policy, and Pakistani Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar.
During the meeting, both parties emphasized the need to enhance trade volume and explored various measures to achieve this goal. Opening new border markets and implementing a barter trade system were among the proposed solutions to foster greater commercial exchange.
The upcoming inauguration of the Pasheen Border was also a topic of discussion during the meeting. This border crossing, to be inaugurated by the prime minister of Pakistan and the president of Iran, is expected to facilitate smoother movement of goods and people, further promoting economic cooperation between the two nations.
Minister Qamar also highlighted the importance of expediting the long-delayed Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline project. The pipeline, spanning 2,775 kilometers, aims to deliver natural gas from Iran to Pakistan. Despite starting discussions in 1995, the project has faced obstacles, including financial constraints in Pakistan and complications arising from US sanctions on Iran related to its nuclear activities.
Minister Qamar expressed his commitment to overcoming these challenges and moving forward with the pipeline, emphasizing its significant potential for energy cooperation and the mutual benefits it would bring to both countries.
