Senator Akram Zaki supports the idea of importing electricity from Iran

Lahore: Former state minister for foreign affairs Senator Akram Zaki on Sunday said Pakistan and Iran enjoy strong political relations but economic relations are not satisfactory.

He lauded the efforts of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to cement economic ties with Iran which will benefit both countries and entire region.

Senator Akram Zaki said this while talking to President of Pakistan Economy Watch Dr. Murtaza Mughal.

He said that the visit of Hassan Rouhani can result in early completion of Pak-Iran gas pipeline project which has been delayed due to sanctions.

The visit of Iranian President is a welcome development while a 60-member trade delegation that arrived with him reflects inclination of Iran to take economic ties with Pakistan to new heights, he said.

Senator Zaki supported the decision to boost trade to five billion dollars and to open two new border points which will reduce cost of doing business and push both countries towards integration which is also evident from five-year agreement and six MOUs.

He said that Pakistan and Iran should not compete in many fields including their ports but cooperate which will benefit both countries and their masses.

At the occasion, Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that Rouhani’s first visit to Pakistan as president is a great development which will have positive impact on political, economic and cultural landscape of Pakistan.

This is a very crucial moment of the history of relations between the two countries which has revived hopes, he added.

He said that proposal forwarded by President FPCCI Abdul Rauf Alam should be considered seriously as import of 5000 megawatt of electricity will require one and a half billion dollars of investment in the infrastructure which it will settle energy crisis in Pakistan.