Pakistan, Iran agree to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion, sign eight MoUs

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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi witness signing of MoUs of cooperation in different fields between the two countries in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 22, 2023. (Government of Pakistan)
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In this photo released by Prime Minister Office, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, left, walks with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a welcome ceremony in the prime minister house in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 22, 2024. (AP)
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Updated 22 April 2024
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Pakistan, Iran agree to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion, sign eight MoUs

  • The signed agreements were related to the fields of trade, science and technology, agriculture, health, culture, and judicial matters
  • Ebrahim Raisi met Pakistan PM, president and army chief amid efforts by both neighbors to mend ties after this year’s tit-for-tat strikes

ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Monday Islamabad and Tehran had committed to strengthening bilateral relations across political, economic, trade, and cultural domains through the signing of eight accords and memorandums of agreement.

Raisi arrived in Islamabad on Monday on a three-day visit as the two Muslim neighbors seek to mend ties after unprecedented tit-for-tat military strikes this year. He is accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation of cabinet members and businesspersons.

The Iranian president was presented with a guard of honor by a Pakistan army contingent upon his arrival at the Prime Minister’s House. He subsequently held meetings with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The MoUs and agreements cover different fields including trade, science technology, agriculture, health, culture, and judicial matters. They include an MoU on the establishment of the Rimdan-Gabd Joint Free/Special Zone; on cooperation between the Ministry of Cooperative Labour and Social Welfare of Iran and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistani and Human Resources Development of Pakistan; on judicial assistance and legal cooperation at the ministry levels; on cooperation for animal hygiene and health; on mutual recognition in the field of quarantine and phytosanitary; and on the promotion of culture and films.

The signing ceremony also marked the ratification of a security cooperation agreement between the governments of two countries.

“Today in our meeting with [Pakistani] prime minister, and other members of the respective cabinet, we decided to promote the bilateral relations between the two countries at political, economic, trade, culture, including others, at all levels as far as possible,” Raisi said at a joint press stakeout with Pakistani premier Sharif.

The Iranian President said both countries were committed to combating terrorism, organized crime, narcotics, and various forms of insecurity that threatened not only the neighbors but the wider region.

“There are a number of common positions and stance between our two countries when it comes, for instance, to fighting against terrorism,” he said, adding that Iran and Pakistan shared a lengthy common border, which presented an opportunity to create and bring about welfare for the people residing in border areas and regions.

“The economic and trade volume between Iran and Pakistan is not acceptable at all and we have decided at the first step to increase the trade volume between our two countries to $10 billion,” Raisi added.

Speaking at the press conference, Sharif said both countries collectively needed to work to strengthen bilateral relations, transforming their shared border into a “beacon of development and prosperity.”

“Today presents an opportunity to forge our friendship into a catalyst for progress and prosperity and the decisions made today regarding economic progress and connectivity will yield visible results,” the PM said.

He also commended the “resolute stance” taken by the Iranian nation against Israeli actions in Gaza, where 35,000 people have been killed in Israeli air and ground offensives since Oct. 7. Sharif called on Iran and Pakistan to unite at the OIC and other international forums alongside fellow Islamic nations to push for a complete ceasefire.

Later, the Iranian president met with his Pakistani counterpart, Asif Ali Zardari, at the Presidency in Islamabad, where the two leaders expressed deep commitment to the longstanding Pakistan-Iran relations. 

“They emphasized the need for further deepening and broadening of bilateral relations in diverse fields and for enhancing high-level dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation,” the Pakistan presidency said in a statement.

In a meeting with Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, both sides concurred on the necessity to bolster bilateral cooperation while jointly striving for regional stability and economic prosperity, according to the Pakistani military. The discussions primarily focused on matters of mutual interest, notably regional peace, stability, and border security.

“COAS (chief of army staff) described the Pak-Iran border as ‘the border of peace and friendship,’ emphasizing the need for improved coordination along the border to prevent terrorists from jeopardizing the longstanding brotherly relations between the two neighboring countries,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement.

“President Ebrahim Raisi emphasized that by fostering cooperation between the two Armed Forces, Pakistan and Iran can attain peace and stability for both nations and the region.”

Raisi also met Yusuf Raza Gillani, chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

“OFTEN AT ODDS”

During his visit from April 22-24, the Iranian head of state is also scheduled to meet the Pakistani president, Senate chairman and National Assembly speaker. He will also visit the cities of Karachi and Lahore to meet the country’s provincial leadership.

Raisi’s visit is the first by any head of state to Pakistan after the South Asian nation’s contentious elections of February 2024 and the formation of a new government headed by Sharif. The visit also comes as tensions are high in the Middle East after Iran launched airstrikes on Israel a week ago and Israel retaliated with its own attack on Friday.

Pakistan and Iran have had a history of rocky relations despite a number of commercial pacts, with Islamabad being historically closer to Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Their highest profile agreement is a stalled gas supply deal signed in 2010 to build a pipeline from Iran’s South Fars gas field to Pakistan’s southern provinces of Balochistan and Sindh.

Pakistan and Iran are also often at odds over instability on their shared porous border, with both countries routinely trading blame for not rooting out militancy.

Tensions surged in January when Pakistan and Iran exchanged airstrikes, both claiming to target alleged militant hideouts in each other’s countries. Both sides have since then undertaken peace overtures and restored bilateral ties.

Former diplomat Naghmana Hashmi said the Iranian President’s visit with a large delegation indicated that both countries had put aside “all sources of irritation,” particularly the recent border skirmishes.

“He is also visiting the commercial centers like Lahore and Karachi, which absolutely is a very clear signal that we want to take the economic relationship that the two countries have, to greater heights, and to increase the flow of trade, to encourage the barter trade and the border markets that we have recently established,” she told Arab News.

Hashmi added that both countries were important forces for peace and security in the region.

“At the time when Iran’s tension with the Israel is at its peak, for the president of Iran to come to Pakistan shows his confidence, both as a leader and as a nation, on us being a good neighbor and they consider Pakistan as their great friend,” she added.

Former Pakistani ambassador to Iran, Riffat Masood, said Raisi’s visit was important in the backdrop of recent hostilities between Israel and Iran.

“And, of course, when the leadership of the two countries meet, they will definitely discuss the way forward in trying to bring an end to or at least reduce the hostilities,” she told Arab News.

She said Raisi’s visit would also further enhance security and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Iran.

“The recent border issues are not expected to have a significant impact,” Masood said, “as both countries swiftly addressed them before any negative consequences could affect bilateral relations.”


Around 670 Pakistani students to return from Bishkek today via four flights — deputy PM 

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Around 670 Pakistani students to return from Bishkek today via four flights — deputy PM 

  • First batch of 130 Pakistani students from Bishkek arrived in Lahore on Saturday night 
  • Kyrgyzstan foreign minister confirmed no Pakistanis had been killed, says deputy PM

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Ishaq Dar announced the government has arranged three commercial flights and one chartered Pakistan Air Force (PAF) flight to repatriate over 700 Pakistani students from Bishkek today, Sunday, following violent clashes in the city this week that led to the evacuations. 
The development took place after frenzied mobs attacked foreign nationals in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek on Friday. The attacks began after videos of a brawl between Kyrgyz and Egyptian students went viral on social media, prompting furious mobs to target hostels of medical universities and private lodgings of international students, including Pakistanis, in the city.
The first batch of around 130 Pakistani students arrived in Lahore late Saturday night. According to official statistics, around 10,000 Pakistani students are enrolled in various educational institutions in Kyrgyzstan, with nearly 6,000 residing and studying in Bishkek.
“Three commercial special flights have been arranged for today (Sunday) on which 540 students will come back while 130 returned yesterday,” Dar told reporters during a media briefing in Lahore.
“A special flight of Pakistan Air Force will also bring around 130 students. So far, 50 students have registered themselves to come on this flight,” he added.
Dar said he spoke with the foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan today, Sunday, who assured him that the situation in the country was under control and that no new incidents had occurred since Friday afternoon.
“Kyrgyz foreign minister has confirmed that 16 foreign students including four to five Pakistanis got injured during this incident and are under treatment,” Dar said. 
He added that Kyrgyzstan’s government has also assured that security at students’ hostels has been enhanced and that they were constantly monitoring the situation.
Earlier on Saturday evening, the PM’s Office said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed Dar and another cabinet member, Amir Muqam, to travel to Bishkek on Sunday and address the situation there.
Dar said they were not traveling to the country at the Kyrgyzstan government’s request, adding that Pakistan has instead sent two officers from the foreign office to facilitate the country’s embassy.
“We were supposed to leave today for the Kyrgyz republic but their foreign minister requested [us] not to come because it would give the wrong impression about the incident and would provide fuel to the opposition,” Dar said. 
He said Kyrgyzstan’s foreign minister has categorically denied any Pakistani students were killed in the clashes. 
“Their (Kyrgyzstan) foreign minister also said they have arrested a few culprits and assured that no one involved will be spared,” the deputy prime minister said. 
Dar said Pakistan’s foreign office had summoned the Kyrgyz Charge d’Affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday for a demarche over the current situation.
“It [violence] happened due to a clash between students and foreign students were targeted from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Arab countries,” he said.
Dar said Pakistan’s embassy had confirmed the situation is not tense anymore and that Pakistanis injured are being provided the best possible medical facilities. 
Separately, in a telephone call with Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Hasan Ali Zaigham, PM Sharif instructed the embassy to make the necessary arrangements for the special plane to bring back Pakistani students.
The prime minister said injured Pakistani students should be brought back to Pakistan on a priority basis.
“The Prime Minister also instructed to ensure repatriation of family members residing in Kyrgyzstan with the Pakistani students,” PMO said.


Pakistan says will push for peace in Middle East if elected non-permanent UNSC member

Updated 55 min 35 sec ago
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Pakistan says will push for peace in Middle East if elected non-permanent UNSC member

  • Elections for five of 10 non-permanent seats of UNSC for 2025-26 to take place on June 6
  • Pakistan has been elected as non-permanent UNSC member seven times, most recently in 2013

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will work for peace in the Middle East and Africa, and promote the right of self-determination of people living under foreign occupation if it gets elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN said on Sunday. 
Elections for five of the 10 non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council for 2025-26 are set to take place on June 6. Pakistan says its candidacy has the endorsement of the 55-member Asian Group.
The South Asian country has been elected to the Security Council seven times, most recently in 2013. Other times Pakistan got elected was in 1952-1953, 1968-1969, 1976-1977, 1983-1984, 1993-1994 and 2003-2004.
Speaking to members of the US-based Pakistan Students Association Coalition (PSA Coalition) via video link, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Munir Akram said election to the Security Council would require Islamabad to play a leading role in addressing Kashmir, Afghanistan and counterterrorism issues. 
“Pakistan will articulate developing countries’ aspirations, work for peace and in the Middle East and Africa as well as promote the right of self-determination for peoples under foreign occupation if elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council,” Akram said, according to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). 
Akram spoke about the current state of the world. including key global challenges amid regional conflicts. 
“He said that as the intense competition between major powers became a new reality of the world order, the world was undergoing a fast transition from its unipolar status to a bipolar plus order,” the APP said. 
The Pakistani ambassador’s comments came as Israel continues its relentless military assault on Gaza. Israel’s attacks against Hamas have killed at least 35,386 people, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. 
The Jewish state’s siege has brought dire food shortages and the threat of famine to the densely populated territory.
Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic ties with Israel, has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East and urged world powers to work toward a two-state solution in the restive region, according to the aspirations of the people of Palestine.


Polling for NA-148 by-election in Pakistan’s Multan underway

Updated 19 May 2024
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Polling for NA-148 by-election in Pakistan’s Multan underway

  • Ex-PM Yousaf Raza Gillani vacated NA-148 seat after getting elected Senate chairman 
  • Tough competition expected between SIC’s Taimur Malik and PPP’s Ali Musa Gillani 

ISLAMABAD: Polling commenced for Multan’s NA-148 on Sunday, state-run media reported, with thousands expected to cast their ballots in today’s by-election. 
Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani won the NA-148 constituency in Multan in the contentious Feb. 8 national election. However, Gillani had to vacate the seat after he was elected to the post of Senate chairman in April. 
A total of 444,231 registered voters in the constituency are expected to exercise their right to cast votes in 275 polling stations and 933 polling booths set up for the polling exercise. Pakistan’s election regulator has set up 485 polling booths for men and 448 for women, state-run Radio Pakistan said.
Voting commenced at 08:00 a.m. and is expected to continue till 5:00 p.m.
“People in good numbers are arriving at the polling stations to cast their votes at the earliest due to hot weather,” Radio Pakistan said. 
“Comprehensive security arrangements have been made for free, fair and transparent polls.”
Eight candidates including the Imran Khan-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) leader Taimur Malik and Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Ali Qasim Gillani are vying for the seat.
The Feb. 8 election was marred by a countrywide shutdown of mobile phone services. The results of the polls, which were declared unfair by Khan and his PTI party, threw up a hung parliament in which no political party emerged with the majority to form its government.
Khan’s PTI, which formed the largest bloc in the National Assembly after winning over 90 seats, said it won a two-thirds majority but was denied victory by Pakistan’s election regulator, accusing it of manipulating votes. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) denied the allegations and so did the caretaker government.


Pakistan’s religion minister arrives in Makkah to review Hajj 2024 arrangements

Updated 47 min 1 sec ago
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Pakistan’s religion minister arrives in Makkah to review Hajj 2024 arrangements

  • Chaudhry Salik Hussain to visit Saudi institutions, catering companies and residences of Hajj pilgrims today, says religion ministry
  • At least 22,696 Pakistani pilgrims arrived in Madinah via 93 flights since April 9 when Pakistan started pre-Hajj flight operations

ISLAMABAD: Religious Affairs Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain reached Makkah on Sunday to review Hajj 2024 arrangements, the religion ministry said, as Pakistani pilgrims continue to arrive in Saudi Arabia ahead of the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and requires every adult Muslim to undertake the journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime if they are financially and physically able.
Pakistani pilgrims have been arriving in Madinah since May 9 when Pakistan launched its pre-Hajj flight operations. At least 22,696 Pakistani pilgrims have since arrived in Madinah through 93 flights, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said in a statement.
Hussain, who arrived in Madinah earlier this week to inspect Hajj arrangements, reached Makkah on Sunday to hold important meetings with Saudi officials and gauge preparations for the Islamic pilgrimage.
“Chaudhry Salik Hussain will visit Saudi institutions, catering companies, and residences of Hajj pilgrims today, Sunday,” MoRA said in a statement.
It added the minister would visit the Pakistan Hajj Mission in Makkah’s office after performing Umrah.
Pakistan’s religion ministry said over 11,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims visited the “Riazul Jannah” in Madinah, a small space between the pulpit and the grave of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, of which 63,805 people will perform the pilgrimage under the government scheme, while the rest will use private tour operators. This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14-19.


UN-linked body grants ‘A status’ to Pakistan’s National Commission for Human Rights

Updated 19 May 2024
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UN-linked body grants ‘A status’ to Pakistan’s National Commission for Human Rights

  • Accreditation allows National Commission for Human Rights to sit at Human Rights Council, other UN bodies’ meetings
  • NCHR was formed in 2012 for promotion and protection of human rights in Pakistan as per country’s constitution

ISLAMABAD: The Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), one of the largest rights networks worldwide, has granted Pakistan’s National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) an A-list status, making it a “historic first” for the South Asian country, state media reported this week, 
Representing over 110 National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), their members and staff across all regions, GANHRI is one of the largest human rights networks worldwide. It is also a trusted partner of the United Nations. 
The NCHR was formed in 2012 for the promotion and protection of human rights in Pakistan as per the country’s constitution and international rights instruments. 
“Despite it being extremely rare for commissions to attain A status in the first round, Pakistan’s NCHR has been accredited with this highest grade in its first try,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Saturday. 
“It is also the only country to have attained new A status in this year’s session.”
The status grants NCHR a seat at the Human Rights Council and other UN bodies, APP said, adding that it was “a historic first” for Pakistan. 
“In the past, Pakistan’s commission could only act as an observer but now will get a voice at the table,” it said. 
“NCHR Pakistan joins the ranks of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, France and others as an A status NHRI.”
The NCHR’s application process involved submitting a lengthy 125-page report about its establishment, independence, composition, organizational infrastructure, working methods, mandate, and quasi-judicial functions.
The NCHR team was interviewed by a committee comprising over 25 persons and select chairpersons of accredited commissions throughout the world before it attained the prestigious status.
“This milestone positions Pakistan’s NCHR in a global alliance of quality, world-class commissions,” the state media said.
“It allows NCHR to speak at the UN Human Rights Council and other global forums to present Pakistan’s case for human rights. Its voice is strategic for financial concessions to Pakistan such as GSP+, FATE, and IME.”