ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Islamic Republic of Iran has expressed its desire to export tractors and other agricultural machinery to Pakistan.
In a meeting with the Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam Islamabad on Wednesday, the Iranian Ambassador Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini also expressed Iran’s interest in cooperation with Pakistan in the field of silkworms and fisheries.
The minister welcomed the proposal and asked the Iranian side to share the concept proposal with specifications of the agricultural machinery for further consideration.
Syed Fakhar Imam reiterated that Pakistan and Iran being the brotherly Muslim Countries enjoy friendly relations and the people of both the Countries are tied in the bonds of cultural and religious relations that are expanded over centuries.
The federal minister said that Pakistan greatly values its relations with Iran.
During the meeting, the two sides also discussed the current situation of desert locust in both Pakistan and Iran.
Pakistan and Iran also share the information regarding the desert locust situation as both the Countries are part of FAO’s South West Commission on Desert Locust (SWAC).
Syed Fakhar Imam informed that Pakistan and Iran have huge potentials for economic cooperation with each other including cooperation in the field of agriculture.
The minister noted that the two Countries may explore new areas of cooperation in the field of livestock.
The federal minister said that Iran can share experiences and knowledge in the field of animal breeding and production improvement with Pakistan and a technical team may be developed between the two Countries to take advantage of experiences of both the Countries.
Fakhar Imam appreciated that Iran has granted market access to Pakistani agricultural products i.e., mangoes after finalization of Pest Risk Analysis (PRA).
Currently, Plant Protection Organization (Iran) has approved 22 Hot Water (HTW) Plants of Pakistan to disinfest and export mangoes to Iran.
In 2020 till July 22, Pakistan has exported 20209.738 MT of mangoes to Iran.
Whereas Pakistan has granted market access to Iranian fresh fruits (fresh dates, grapes, apple, plum) and fresh vegetables (tomato), chickpeas, dried fruits (Pistachio, raisins, almond, walnut, dry coconut).
Syed Fakhar Imam further said that the National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPO) of both the Countries may have more frequent collaboration with each other to amicably resolve quarantine issues to promote bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran.
