Pak daily praises Zarif’s vision for better Iran-Pakistan ties

Daily ‘Business Recorder’ in its editorial comments said that the vision of Foreign Minister Zarif in his recent visit to Pakistan envisaged realization of long delayed Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline, establishment of banking ties, signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and making Gwadar and Chabahar ports complementary.

“It is true that banking relations are considered crucial to expanding bilateral trade that is currently at $1.2 billion,” it said. The newspaper said the target is to increase it to $5 billion per annum over next few years and the absence of regular banking channels, however, adds to the profundity of challenge.

It said despite successive Pakistani governments’ complacent approach to the IP project, the project has been delayed.
The editorial said the incumbent Pakistani government must respond to Iran’s move in the most generous manner keeping in view the fact that they are not only two Islamic friendly countries but neighbors also.

The paper went on to say that offer of the Iranian foreign minister to link Chabahar and Gwadar ports through sea and land routes for giving effect to their complementarities also deserves praise.