ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to achieving the target of ten billion dollars in bilateral trade with Iran.
He made these remarks during a meeting with the Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, who called on him in Islamabad on Tuesday, Radio Pakistan reported.
The Minister highlighted that Pakistan’s agricultural products—such as rice, maize, and fodder—are of superior quality and geographically closer to Iran, offering a cost-effective alternative to imports from more distant markets like Brazil and Australia.
Ambassador Moghadam informed the Minister that Iran plans to import 350,000 livestock from Pakistan and expressed satisfaction with the progress made on rice export agreements, noting that the purchasing arrangements are expected to be finalised soon.
Both sides acknowledged that Pakistan and Iran share similar agro-climatic conditions, providing a strong foundation for cooperation in agricultural research, seed development, and technology transfer.
The Iranian delegation also expressed interest in establishing joint ventures in areas such as modern irrigation systems, drought-resistant crop varieties, and organic farming, to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability in both countries.
The Ambassador further conveyed Iran’s willingness to collaborate on training and capacity-building programs for agricultural scientists and technical experts, ensuring mutual growth and knowledge exchange.
The Minister welcomed Iran’s interest in deepening agricultural cooperation and endorsed the proposal for extra-territorial cultivation on Pakistani soil.
He emphasised that Pakistan remains open to innovative partnerships aimed at promoting sustainable and forward-looking agricultural practices.
