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Iranian diplomat regrets low trade with Pakistan

RECORDER REPORT

PESHAWAR: An Iranian diplomat has slammed the slow trading activities between Pakistan and Iran, calling for greater involvement of traders from both sides to explore business activities.

Iran's Consul General in Peshawar Abbas Ali Abdullah made these remarks during a reception for local industrialists and traders here on Friday night.

He said there was a great scope of mutual trade between the two brotherly Islamic countries.

However, he called upon the industrialists and traders to discourage smuggling which what he described as the big bottleneck in promotion of trade relations at official level.

Briefing the local businessmen on post-revolution economic achievements in Iran, Abdullah disclosed that during 1979, the imports were worth $ 25 billion and foreign trade deficit was marked at $ 6.5 billion per annum.

"But towards the end of first five-year plan, the imports were plummeted suddenly to $ 130 billion without effecting the economic growth.

"Resultantly, the balance of trade during the years, ending the second five-year plan marked a considerable growth with $ 5.5 billion as surplus trade benefit", the Iranian diplomat said.

Similarly, the budget deficit, he said, which caused inflation was also controlled to a great extent. "All these enviable achievements were made despite imposition of a long and destructive war, while the economic sanctions by the United States and Europe further deteriorated and multiplied Iran's economic problems," he remarked.

The consul-general attributed Iran's unprecedented economic growth to President Mohammad Khattami's rule.

Speaking on behalf of the local traders, Faiz Rasool Khan, President of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), saluted the Iranian government for its bold decision to open border trade with Afghanistan despite serious reservations.

He hoped that Iran would succour Pakistan politically, economically and socially as it had been supporting it on every regional and international foras.