Iran and Pakistan inked 13 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) at the end of the 22nd meeting of the two countries’ Joint Economic Committee, in Tehran on Tuesday.Addressing the closing ceremony of the meeting, in which the MOUs were signed, Iran’s Minister of Transport and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh, who is the Iranian chair of the committee, stated: “These agreements will pave the way for achieving $10 billion in trade between the two countries.”The minister added that the 22nd meeting of the Iran-Pakistan Joint Economic Committee was held again after a three-year hiatus and concluded successfully.At the end of the ceremony, the minutes of cooperation between the railways of Iran and Pakistan were signed by Jabar-Ali Zakari, Head of Iranian Railways, and Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, Chairman of Pakistan Railways.A new chapter in Iran-Pakistan railway co-op, boosting transit on ECO rail routeThe head of Iranian Railways in a meeting with the chairman of Pakistan Railways, announced Iran's readiness to increase the cargo transportation capacity between the two countries.Jabar-Ali Zakari, during the meeting with the chairman of Pakistan Railways, who had come to Tehran to participate in the 22nd meeting of the Iran-Pakistan Joint Economic Committee, emphasized the necessity of strengthening rail diplomacy, increasing rail-based transit, and developing rail transportation between the two countries.He announced the readiness of Iranian Railways to increase the cargo transport capacity between the two nations.The Chairman of Pakistan Railways, in this meeting, expressed his satisfaction with the strategy of Iran Railways to increase rail transit in the region, stating: "The current level of rail transportation between the two countries is lower than the actual capacity, and Pakistan is ready to resolve the existing obstacles by improving infrastructure and supplying wagons."Mazhar Ali Shah, referring to the commencement of operations to rebuild the Taftan–Quetta railway line, said: "This project, aimed at increasing the speed and capacity of trains, will become operational by early 2028."The 22nd meeting of the Iran-Pakistan Joint Economic Committee commenced in Tehran on Monday, co-chaired by Iran’s Minister of Transport and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh, and Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan.In her opening remarks, Minister Sadegh hailed the meeting as a significant step towards enhancing bilateral economic and commercial ties.She announced that a roadmap for achieving a $10 billion bilateral trade target would be finalized and signed by the relevant ministers within the next three months.“This goal reflects the strong political will of both nations to deepen cooperation,” Sadegh stated. She emphasized that reaching this target would require strengthening banking relations and establishing secure, mutually agreed financial channels. (ICE TEHERAN)

Fonte notizia: Tehran Times