Pezeshkian’s trip to Pakistan
Tehran seeking $10 billion trade with Islamabad
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Saturday for a two-day visit aimed at enhancing relations between the two neighboring countries especially in economy.
Heading a high-ranking delegation, Pezeshkian was welcomed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Islamabad international airport.
Several documents for the expansion of bilateral cooperation are set to be signed between the two countries during Pezeshkian’s visit.
Speaking before his departure, Pezeshkian said Tehran plans to increase bilateral trade volume to $10 billion annually.
“Through Pakistan, we can connect to the Silk Road between China and Pakistan, and this road can connect to Europe through Iran,” he said.
On his way to Islamabad, the Iranian president made a stop in Pakistan’s northern city of Lahore where he held talks with former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif and the Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
Pezeshkian also visited the tomb of the renowned poet Muhammad Iqbal.
At the meeting, Pezeshkian expressed his appreciation for the support shown by the government and people of Pakistan during the recent Israeli-imposed war of aggression against Iran.
“If Muslims around the world unite, the Zionist regime will no longer be able to target independent nations one by one,” the president said.
He also called for greater cooperation in science, industry, and agriculture between regional countries. “We must pool our strengths to form a united bloc and meet the needs of the Islamic Ummah ourselves,” he said.
For his part, Nawaz Sharif praised Iran’s resilience in the face of Israeli aggression. “We stand with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and our resolve will be stronger than ever moving forward.”
He said that through their resistance, the Iranian people not only protected their homeland but also reshaped Iran’s global image.
“This was not merely a confrontation with one regime,” he said, “but a courageous stand against global powers.”
The visit marks the fifth official meeting between the two countries’ officials in the past year. The Iranian president and Pakistani prime minister have been in constant contact over the past months, particularly following the escalation of recent military tensions in the region, highlighting both sides’ resolve to improve bilateral cooperation.