Iranian Delegation Visits FPCCI Karachi, Discusses Expansion of Bilateral Trade

English Translation

An Iranian government and business delegation visited the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) in Karachi, where an important meeting was held with Pakistani traders.

The delegation, led by the Deputy Governor of Sistan and Balochistan, also included CEO of the Chabahar Free Zone, Mohammad Saeed Arbabi. During the meeting, the Iranian side praised the longstanding fraternal relations between Iran and Pakistan, stating that both countries effectively function as a shared economic unit. They also noted a significant rise in bilateral trade following recent regional developments. The CEO of the Chabahar Free Zone proposed the establishment of a special free trade zone near Chabahar for Pakistan.

It was shared during the discussion that trade activities are ongoing through new border points such as Ramedan and Gabd, in addition to Taftan. However, Pakistani traders highlighted several operational challenges, including a lack of customs facilitation and the absence of a fully developed trade module from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

Traders further noted that the State Bank has granted a three-month relaxation for trade with Iran, but the current barter trade system includes only a limited number of goods, restricting its scope.

The meeting also discussed investment opportunities in logistics, meat, transportation, maritime sectors, and rice trade.

FPCCI Senior Vice President Saqib Fayyaz Magoon emphasized the need for direct linkages and an effective barter trade mechanism. Vice President Nasser Khan suggested leveraging Gwadar and Chabahar ports as complementary hubs to transform the region into a global transit trade center. Vice President Asif Sakhi highlighted Pakistan’s strong capacity to meet Iran’s demand for halal meat and rice.