PM, Iran President discuss regional, global developments
Iranian President pays respects at mausoleum of Allama Iqbal
DPM, Iranian FM reaffirm commitment to bolster ties
Pakistan, Iran pledge to deepen bilateral trade, border cooperation
ICCI proposes establishment of joint border free zone between Iran and Pakistan
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD:President of Iran Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, who was on an official visit to Pakistan, met Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House and discussed matters of bilateral, regional and global interest.
Upon arrival at the Prime Minister House, President Pezeshkian was received by the Prime Minister and presented a guard of honour followed by the official welcome ceremony.
The two leaders then held talks in a narrow format, followed by delegation level talks between the two sides. During the talks, the Prime Minister was assisted by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, as well as other important Federal Ministers, Ministers of State and senior government officials.
While underscoring the long standing brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity and support for the Iranian leadership, Iranian armed forces and the people of Iran, who bravely fought against Israel’s aggression in the 12-days war. He offered condolences on the martyrdom of Iranian military officials, scientists and innocent citizens during the war and prayed for early recovery of the injured.
He also thanked Iran for its strong support to Pakistan during the recent Pakistan-India standoff. President Pezeshkian thanked the Government and people of Pakistan for their unwavering support to Iran during the war and said that the Iranian nation would always remember this gesture.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need to further expand the existing wide-ranging bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Iran, particularly in the areas of trade, connectivity, culture and people-to-people contacts. In this regard, the Prime Minister called for early convening of the 22nd Joint Economic Commission between Pakistan and Iran, which is expected to be held soon. The two leaders witnessed the exchange of a number of MoUs and agreements in various sectors of mutual interest that will go a long way in enhancing bilateral ties.
A number of initiatives for enhancing trade were discussed, including facilitating barter trade, enhancing quota for export of rice, fruits and meat, border markets operationalization, and addressing issues related to enhancing trade. The two leaders also expressed satisfaction at the progress of recently held trade talks between Pakistan and Iran. The two leaders reaffirmed their shared vision to enhance the existing volume of trade of USD 3 billion to the mutually agreed target of USD 10 billion soon.
During the talks, both sides also exchanged views on important regional and global developments. The Prime Minister thanked the Iranian leadership for Iran’s vocal and active support for the innocent Palestinian people, who have been suffering brutal aggression at the hands of Israeli security forces.
While reaffirming Pakistan’s strong support to the creation of an independent state of Palestine in accordance with the U.N. resolutions, the Prime Minister called for an immediate end to Israeli barbarity against innocent people of Gaza who were being denied humanitarian assistance and being forced to starve. Both leaders urged the international community to act swiftly to resolve this crisis. The Prime Minister also thanked Iran for its support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
The Prime Minister also hosted a luncheon banquet for the visiting Iranian President and members of his delegation. Both leaders also held a joint press conference where they spoke on the issues they had discussed earlier in the day.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that the leadership of Pakistan and Iran were keen to enhance the bilateral trade volume to the target of $10 billion as soon as possible.
Addressing a joint press stakeout with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, the prime minister said that today, both countries signed a number of documents to transform them into agreements and to realize the potential of $10 billion trade target, adding that the respective delegations from the two sides would further hold detailed meetings to move forward in this regard.
He said during their bilateral meeting, both sides discussed the broad aspects of their bilateral ties, brotherhood relations, religious and cultural ties, and held comprehensive talks to further boost them.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Iranian president for his heartfelt message to the people of Pakistan.
He said in June, Israel without any rhyme or reason, unleashed aggression against Iran which was not only strongly condemned by the government of Pakistan but by entire 240 million Pakistani people as there was no reason for Israel to stoke war.
Prime Minister Sharif also expressed his condolences on the martyrdom of Iranian generals, scientists and the civilians during the conflict and prayed for the departed souls and for the injured for their early recovery.
He also lauded the Iranian leadership for showing bravery and wisdom during the Israeli aggression and said the Iranian forces and the people faced the aggression and exposed the Israeli defence system with volleys of retaliatory missile attacks.
The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s principled stance over Iran’s right to a nuclear programme for peaceful purposes under the UN charter, saying that Pakistan would stand by its stance.
In the fight against terrorism, he said both sides shared views that it could not be tolerated at any cost. If anyone in Iran was affected by terrorism, it was akin to a victim of terror in Pakistan, he observed.
He further said the two brotherly countries would take effective measures to eliminate terrorism.
The prime minister further said that in Gaza, the worst kind of genocide of the people of Palestine continued unabated and appreciated the Iranian leadership for raising their voice for the rights of the Palestinian people.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s support, he said they had always supported the Palestinian people, and recently, the deputy prime minister had effectively presented Pakistan’s views at the UNSC forum on the grave situation in Gaza.
“The newly born kids are being slaughtered, mothers and youth are being killed; streets have turned into red with their blood, while food assistance routes are blocked, leading to deaths of innocent children. Such scenes are heart-wrenching and cannot be recalled,” he regretted and stressed upon the entire Muslim Ummah and the world community to raise their solid voice and make efforts for permanent peace and ceasefire in Gaza, otherwise history would not forgive them.
The prime minister stressed upon taking of practical steps rather than mere verbal rhetoric.
In the valley of illegally occupied Kashmir, he said the situation was not different from Gaza, where the innocent people were being killed, and thanked Iran for its support for the right of the freedom of the Kashmiri people.
The prime minister, on behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan, welcomed the president on his maiden visit to Pakistan.
The deputy prime minister/foreign minister, speaker National Assembly, chairman Senate, members of the federal cabinet and members of the Iranian delegation were also present.
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, in his remarks, expressed gratitude for the position adopted by the parliament, government and the people of Pakistan for supporting Iran during 10-day Israeli aggression.
He said the bonds of affinities and affection between the two countries and nations were deeply rooted in religion, culture and history, citing poetic verses of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, in which he stressed upon unity among the Muslim countries.
Advancing the neighbourhood policy was among the priority of their foreign policy, and Pakistan was not only their neighbour but also a brotherly country, he added.
The president expressed his satisfaction that fortunately, serious and sincere efforts were being initiated by both sides for cooperation in diverse field, and to take their current trade volume of $3 billion dollars to projected target of 10 billion dollars.
He said, important documents were also signed which would enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields.
President Pezeshkian said that they were determined to take steps to implement these agreements while development of land, sea and air routes would facilitate trade.
Given the threats from terrorists in the border areas, both sides agreed to enhance the border security for the safety of the people of the two countries, he added.
The Iranian president underlined the need for development of trade and economic cooperation which would contribute to progress, prosperity, peace and stability in the region.
He also condemned the Israeli aggression and genocide in Gaza and steps to destabilise the region.
The Iranian president said the two sides believed that the association and cooperation among the Muslim countries were needed to take shape to counter expansionist designs of the Zionist’s regime and ensure stability in the region.
Iran and Pakistan had asked the global bodies to leave the double standards, and stop spillover of war, violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries, he added.
He also expressed his pleasure to arrive in his second home; Pakistan and expressed his gratitude to the government of Pakistan and the prime minister for the warm reception and hospitality accorded to them.
Earlier, the Iranian president and the prime minister witnessed signing ceremony of 12 different agreements and MoUs to enhance cooperation in plants protection and quarantine, collaboration in science, technology and innovation, IT, exchange programme in culture, education, youth, health, science and research, model text of MoU on maritime security and fire extinguishing, MoU on judicial assistance, implementation programmes on products inspection and quality, tourism cooperation and joint ministerial statement on free trade agreement.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar Saturday met with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi here and discussed matters of bilateral interest.
Foreign Minister Araghchi is part of Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian’s delegation for his state visit to Pakistan.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Pakistan-Iran ties, with a focus on expanding cooperation in regional stability, trade, and economic collaboration. They also discussed enhancing bilateral engagement across key areas of mutual interest.
Pakistan and Iran pledged to deepen bilateral trade and border cooperation during high-level talks between the trade ministers of both sides here.
In a significant move to enhance bilateral economic cooperation, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, met with Iranian Minister for Industry, Mines and Trade, Mohammad Atabak, on the sidelines of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s two-day official visit to Pakistan, said a release issued here.
The high-level discussion marked a renewed commitment from both sides to accelerate trade, remove border bottlenecks, and build trust-based partnerships across priority sectors.
The two ministers acknowledged the historic depth of Pakistan-Iran relations, expressing that recent regional and global developments have pushed both nations closer together.
Minister Atabak praised the Pakistani government’s proactive role in facilitating bilateral trade progress and said:
“Without the rapid engagement and determination from you and your team, we wouldn’t have reached this stage. The momentum we’ve built must now be translated into structured trade outcomes.”
Jam Kamal Khan echoed similar sentiments, noting that both governments, as well as the private sector, have shown strong will and passion to work together.
“There’s a moment in diplomacy when the iron is hot—and this is that moment. We must act swiftly. Delays only complicate things,” he said.
He emphasized that formalities follow passion and political will, and highlighted that Pakistan is ready to deepen its economic relationship with Iran through structured channels like the Joint Economic Commission (JEC), regular B2B exchanges, and sector-focused delegations.
Both ministers agreed on the importance of identifying specific sectors such as agriculture, livestock, services, energy, and cross-border logistics for future collaboration.
Jam Kamal suggested organizing targeted trade delegations that include representatives from federal and provincial chambers of commerce, enabling focused discussions on market access and regulatory facilitation.
“We’ve done this model successfully in Belarus and elsewhere,” he added. “Let’s do the same for Iran, starting with sectors that show the greatest potential for mutual benefit.”
The ministers also expressed a shared commitment to increasing the use of existing trade corridors and border facilities. Emphasis was placed on maximizing the potential of neighborhood trade, with Jam Kamal highlighting how ASEAN countries have benefited enormously by trading within their region.
“Geography is an advantage. Pakistan and Iran must utilize this discount of distance. If we don’t, we lose both time and cost benefits,” he stated.
Jam Kamal envisioned that, if fully leveraged, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran could easily exceed $5–8 billion annually in the coming years. He noted that beyond bilateral gains, such connectivity could expand to Turkey, Central Asia, Russia, and even parts of the Middle East, creating an economic bloc of substantial power and resilience.
Mohammad Atabak supported the idea of holding a dedicated B2B day during every high-level visit and offered to bring Iranian business groups to Pakistan for in-depth meetings.
He also highlighted ongoing discussions about increasing Pakistani exports to Iran and encouraged swift follow-up on newly signed agreements.
“Traders and industrialists in both countries are ready. They trust each other. What they need now is a clear and consistent facilitation mechanism from our sides,” Atabak noted.
Reflecting on the human element of bilateral ties, both sides underscored the cultural and linguistic commonalities between the people of Pakistan and Iran.
Jam Kamal shared an anecdote about a meeting with the CEO of the Special Economic Free Zone who spoke in Balochi, emphasizing the deep-rooted linkages between communities on both sides of the border.
“This isn’t just trade—it’s people-to-people connectivity. The familiarity and comfort zone between our merchants can be the strongest foundation for sustainable economic integration,” he added.
The ministers agreed to fast-track the next session of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Economic Commission, ensured participation from both public and private stakeholders, and prioritized border facilitation and trade logistics.
Both sides left the meeting with a message, “The time for action is now”.
With high-level political alignment and mutual trust, Pakistan and Iran appear poised to enter a new phase of strategic economic partnership that could reshape regional trade dynamics.
Iranian Minister for Roads & Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadegh, who accompanied the Iranian President on official visit to Pakistan, participated in a joint session held with Federal Ministers for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, and Railways Hanif Abbasi.
The discussions focused on strengthening the longstanding friendly and bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly by enhancing transportation, connectivity network and road infrastructure, said a press release issued here on Sunday.
During the meeting interest was expressed by Iran in joining the Silk Road initiative with Pakistan and China and discussed expanding maritime trade via the Gwadar-Chabahar Route. Welcoming the Iranian delegation, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan congratulated Iran on his great success & firm stance against Israel, describing it as a matter of pride and solidarity for the entire Muslim World. He emphasized that Pakistan and Iran have always stood by each other while recent developments have brought the two nations more closer.
Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan invited the Iranian Minister for Roads and Urban Development to attend the upcoming Ministerial Conference in Pakistan on October 23-24, which will be hosted by Pakistan and Ministers from 20 countries be participating. In response, the Iranian Minister Ms. Farzaneh Sadegh expressed her deep appreciation for Pakistan’s support against Israeli aggression and extended sentiments of goodwill to the people of Pakistan.
Iranian Minister highlighted the need to increase the number of vehicles operating between Iran and Pakistan and suggested modernizing the current Quetta-Zahedan Route. Federal Minister Communications Abdul Aleem Khan proposed forming bilateral working groups to accelerate the implementation of agreed initiatives.
During the meeting, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan briefed the Iranian delegation on opportunities to expand trade volume and highlighted the significant untapped potential across various sectors. He noted that both countries can serve as viable markets for each other.
Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to review the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Railway Projects, adding that the Quetta-Zahedan Railway Line would be upgraded and expanded to improve regional connectivity.
In response, Iranian Minister Ms. Farzaneh Sadegh thanked her Pakistani counterparts and assured full cooperation from her country, Iran. She described her visit to Pakistan as highly pleasant and memorable, expressing optimism for more dynamic and effective bilateral engagements going forward.
Aleem Khan recalling his recent visit to Iran, termed the progress in bilateral relations as positive and meaningful. He also presented gifts to Iranian Minister Ms.Farzaneh Sadegh and conveyed warm wishes to the people of Iran.
On first day of his visit to Lahore, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, visited the mausoleum of the Poet of the East and national philosopher, Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal, on Saturday to pay tribute to his legacy.
He was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, and Provincial Information Minister Azma Bokhari.
During the solemn ceremony, President Pezeshkian laid a wreath at the grave and offered Fateha, led by Chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and Khateeb of Badshahi Masjid Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad.
The Iranian president also penned heartfelt remarks in the visitors’ book, expressing admiration for Allama Iqbal’s visionary contributions to Islamic philosophy and the Pakistan Movement.
Tight security arrangements were in place to ensure the safety of the distinguished guest and his delegation throughout the visit.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said the entire nation welcomed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian along with his delegation which would spend a busy day in Pakistan to further advance the bilateral cooperation between the two brotherly countries.
Their stay in Islamabad included bilateral meetings and a warm reception, the minister said while talking to the media along with Chief Commissioner Islamabad and Chairman of Capital Development Authority Muhammad Ali Randhawa after reviewing the arrangements.
Tarar said the whole route from airport has been decorated with Pakistani and Iranian flags while portraits of Pakistani and Iranian leadership are displayed across the city creating an environment of festivity in Islamabad to welcome the Iranian President
“This is a very crucial visit as the Iranian President is visiting on the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,” the minister said, adding their meeting took place in Azerbaijan that was further supplemented with a successful visit of the prime minister to Iran along with Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Previously, he said, multiple trade initiatives came under discussion during the former Iranian President martyred Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Pakistan.
The minister said joint border markets and cooperation for advancing trade volume would be discussed in today’s visit.
A high-level Iranian delegation led by Reza Masrour, Secretary of the Supreme Council of Free Trade, Industrial and Special Economic Zones visited the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and held a productive meeting with ICCI President Nasir Mansoor Qureshi to explore avenues for deepening economic cooperation between the two brotherly nations.
The Iranian delegation included Mohammad Said Arbabi, Managing Director of the Chamber of Free Zones; Saeed Rabiei, Deputy Secretary of Free Zones; Ali Reza Khayyami, Director; Zahra Qadyanlo, Commercial Counsellor; Asif Ghias, Managing Director Zenith; and Ms. Faiza Hussaini.
The ICCI side was represented by Senior Vice President Abdul Rehman Siddiqui, Chairman Founder Group Shaikh Tariq Sadiq, Executive Members Mohammad Imran Minhas, Waseem Chaudhry, and Advisor to the ICCI President, Naeem Siddiqui.
Both sides agreed to foster collaboration in trade, joint ventures, investment, and industrial cooperation, emphasizing the need for mutually beneficial economic initiatives.
Reza Masrour showcased the vast potential of Iran’s free trade zones, especially the Chabahar Free Zone, and invited Pakistani businessmen for a visit to explore investment prospects.
Highlighting a major proposal, Mohammad Said Arbabi suggested the establishment of a joint border free zone between Iran and Pakistan.
He revealed that Iran has already allocated a significant tract of land for this purpose and urged Pakistan to take the next step toward materializing this initiative.
He further recommended a formal partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Chabahar Free Zone and ICCI to facilitate joint expos and business cooperation.
Welcoming the delegation, ICCI President Nasir Mansoor Qureshi underlined the deep-rooted ties between Pakistan and Iran and emphasized the importance of expanding bilateral trade, organizing joint exhibitions, and enhancing people-to-people and business-to-business linkages.
He said Pakistan’s pharmaceutical, surgical and sports goods, minerals, pink salt, and IT services hold great potential for exports to Iran. He vowed ICCI’s active support for value addition, border trade, and cultural exchanges.
President Qureshi also extended an invitation to the Iranian side to participate in ICCI’s upcoming International Industrial Exhibition scheduled for September, encouraging them to showcase their industrial and cultural strengths.
Chairman Founder Group, Shaikh Tariq Sadiq, and Executive Members Imran Minhas and Waseem Chaudhry echoed the sentiments, reiterating the need for stronger economic bonds and greater engagement between the two countries.
Senior Vice President Abdul Rehman Siddiqui appreciated the efforts of the Iranian diplomatic mission in Islamabad for fostering bilateral trade ties. He also expressed heartfelt solidarity with the families of Iranian martyrs affected by recent Israeli aggression.
The meeting concluded on a positive note with a shared resolve to accelerate bilateral trade, facilitate investment, and work jointly towards regional economic integration.
