Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iran’s President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday jointly inaugurated the Mand-Pishin border sustenance market.
The purpose of this market is to enhance bilateral trade between the two countries. The Mand-Pishin market is one of the six border markets planned to be established along the Pakistan-Iran border.
The Mand-Pishin border sustenance marketplace will provide a thriving platform for increasing cross-border trade, fostering economic growth, and opening up new avenues of opportunity for local businesses.
The two leaders also planted a sapling in the premises of the border market as a gesture to stride forward in the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Power Minister Khurram Dastagir, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and senior officials of Pakistan and Iran were present.
The prime minister and the Iranian president also inaugurated the Polan-Gabd electricity transmission line at the Mand-Pishin border crossing point. The line will play a pivotal role in meeting the energy needs of the region, including households and businesses, by bringing-in an additional 100 MW of electricity from Iran.
The Foreign Office in a statement said, “The joint inauguration is a manifestation of the strong commitment of Pakistan and Iran to uplift the welfare of residents of the neighboring provinces of Balochistan and Sistan-o-Baluchestan, respectively.”
At a media briefing after inauguration of two mega initiatives, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Iran would supply 100 megawatts of electricity daily to Balochistan’s Gwadar once the Polan-Gabd electricity transmission line project becomes functional.
In a separate interview with Iran’s official news agency IRNA, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the significance of enhanced cooperation between Pakistan and Iran.
He highlighted that energy projects and border markets symbolized the vitality of the friendship between the two nations. The prime minister underscored that Pakistan and Iran shared deep-rooted religious, cultural, and linguistic ties, and their governments were working closely together for the betterment and socio-economic upliftment of their respective peoples.
PM Shehbaz regarded the Mand-Pishin border marketplace and the Polan-Gabd electricity project as concrete expressions of this commitment.
He stated that these initiatives would not only foster greater cooperation, particularly in the economic sector, but also serve as stepping stones for future collaboration between the two countries.
According to Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, the project had been pending since 2009, but under the leadership of PM Shehbaz, it was completed in a remarkable four-month timeframe.
She further added that the project would unlock development, trade, business, and employment opportunities, thereby contributing to the future prosperity of the people of Gwadar and Balochistan.
Pakistan and Iran also agreed to accelerate work on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries and finalise it at the earliest.
This was stated by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif while speaking to the tribal elders and notables of the city of Gwadar today.
