Islamabad: April 22, 2017; Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has stressed on enhancing trade and commercial ties between Iran and Pakistan in order to bring the two neighboring Muslim countries closer in all other spheres of mutual concern. Message received from Iran, he made these remarks during his formal talks with the Iranian Majlis (Parliament) Speaker Mr. Ali Larijani in Majlis today at the start of the three-day official bilateral visit of Pakistan’s Parliamentary delegation to Iran. 

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who arrived in the Iranian capital yesterday, held a busy round of meetings with the top parliamentary and political leadership, discussing critical issues of border security, Afghanistan, Middle East situation, Yemen and Syrian crisis, trade and commerce and other issues of mutual concern.

During his meeting, with Speaker Lerejani, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq stressed on the two sides to work closely for the progress of the two nations and for the entire Muslim World. “We must not fall prey to the sectarian divide and think for Muslim unity and prosperity,” said the Speaker.

He lamented the fact that though the two countries shared a common border of over 920 kms and yet the trade volume between the two neighbours was disappointingly low. He noted that the recent Joint Economic Commission had set the target of taking the bilateral trade volume to the figure of 5 billion US dollars. However, given the existing potential, this could easily be raised to three times. He stressed on the Iranian side to lift the tariff barriers on Pakistani exports of Rice, citrus, fruits, cotton and other items. He also invited Iran to join the CPEC to boost Iranian exports.

Citing the long-standing religious, cultural and emotional ties between the two nations, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq reaffirmed Pakistan’s support to Iran for regional peace and Iran’s sovereignty. “There are powers who do not want peace in the Muslim world and we must understand this greater international conspiracy,” said Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
 

Speaker, talking on Afghanistan issue,  said that regional issues should be resolved by the countries of the region without inference of any foreign involvement.
 

He also highlighted the condition of Muslims in Occupied Kashmir and said Pakistan considers solution of Kashmir issue through UN resolutions and political dialogue.

Speaker Ali Larijani also welcomed Parliamentary delegation and extended Iran's cooperation and support in his remarks. Speaker Lerajani, while agreeing to Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s observations, declared that Iranian Port of Chahbahar was not a competing but a complimenting port of Gawadar. He praised Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s frank approach and said that he fully trusted the sincerity of his Pakistani counterpart. “You speak from your heart so I believe in every word of yours,” said Speaker Larejani.
 

The two Speakers have agreed to provide the parliamentary imputes to the ongoing peace initiatives and in this regard, Iran declared its support to Pakistan’s parliamentary initiative of a quadrilateral Parliamentary Peace Conference of China, Iran, Pakistan and Afghansitan.