ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini called on Federal Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam in his office here on Tuesday.

Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research Tahir Khursheed and Senior Joint Secretary Javed Humayun also attended the meeting. According to a press release, Fakhar Imam welcomed the Iranian offer to waive off all tariff on agricultural exports to Iran from Pakistan. He said Pakistan has immense export potential with respect to citrus fruits, rice, mangoes, onion, potatoes, fisheries and livestock etc.

He said Pakistan can meet the entire demand of rice of Iran. He said Pakistan has eight million tonnes of rice which can be exported. Fakhar said Pakistan exported 144,000 tonnes of mangoes internationally and hence its export to Iran also has huge potential.

Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research Mr. Tahir Khursheed said that the extensive border between the two countries makes it ideal for trade of perishable goods. Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini said that Iran imports numerous agricultural products from Pakistan. He said Iran imported 5,000 tonnes of citrus fruits from Pakistan. He said Iran also imports rice from Pakistan and has a substantial market for livestock, red meat, fisheries etc.

Ambassador of Iran apprised the federal minister that Iran is exporting 104 MW electricity to Pakistan. He said Iran and Pakistan have a border of 900 km and both countries should take advantage of that to strengthen each other. Fakhar Imam said that Iran has expertise in the floriculture sector and exchange of such expertise can benefit both countries.

The Ambassador offered to exchange Iran’s technical knowledge of flori-culture with Pakistan. Fakhar Imam said that Netherlands has the biggest flori-culture production in the world which should be taken as an example in Pakistan. He said Pakistan faces a number of challenges but with the right policy interventions under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, agriculture sector can be transformed.

He said Pakistani agriculture has been tottering along the traditional agricultural techniques and it is time that we start to look ahead to the future in terms of modernization.’ The minister thanked the Ambassador and highlighted the cordial and friendly relations between the two countries since 1947.

He said Iran was the first country to recognize the state of Pakistan. He said the two countries have shared history and literature. He said there is a bonhomie between the two people. He said the two countries should enhance and fine tune their mutual relation.