Pakistan and Iran have agreed to expand bilateral agricultural trade to $3 billion within the next two years. The agreement came during a high-level ministerial meeting on food security and agricultural cooperation in Tehran, led by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, alongside his Iranian counterpart, Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh.
Major Gains for Pakistani Exports
Iran has agreed to import the majority of its rice from Pakistan, securing a consistent market for Pakistani farmers and exporters. The two sides also addressed challenges in mango exports, with Tehran promising to resolve delays in import permits and foreign exchange allocations. Additionally, Iran committed to sourcing around 60% of its meat imports and large volumes of maize from Pakistan.
Iran’s Reciprocal Exports and Complementary Strengths
While Pakistan focuses on rice, meat, and maize exports, Iran will expand exports of dairy products, nuts, fruits, and vegetables to Pakistan. Both sides emphasised that their agricultural sectors complement each other, allowing them to meet seasonal needs effectively.
Trade Facilitation and Infrastructure Development
The two countries agreed on measures to ease agricultural trade, including faster customs clearance, setting up warehouses and cold chain systems, and improving border infrastructure to ensure perishable commodities reach markets in prime condition.
Research Collaboration and Joint Committee
Recognising the importance of innovation, Pakistan’s Agricultural Research Council and Iranian research institutions will strengthen cooperation in areas such as climate change, livestock breeding, water management, and crop research. A Joint Committee on Agricultural Cooperation was also established to meet every six months to review progress and resolve bottlenecks.
Path Toward a Free Trade Agreement
Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), providing a long-term framework for sustainable agricultural trade growth. The next session of the Iran–Pakistan Joint Economic Commission is scheduled to be held in Tehran next month.
Shared Vision for Regional Food Security
Minister Hussain hailed the outcome of the talks as a “turning point,” aligned with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision of strengthening trade ties with neighbouring countries. He extended an invitation to his Iranian counterpart to visit Pakistan to further consolidate cooperation.
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