By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistan Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro has said that Pakistan and Iran enjoy close neighborly relations and have been playing a significant role in the region for peace and stability.
Both countries, he added, desire to expand trade and economic links in order to ensure prosperity for their people.
The prime minister was talking to the special envoy of Iran, Kazem Jalali who called on him here at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat on Friday, an official statement said.
Pakistan was committed to further strengthen the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran which are based on shared faith, culture, values and common heritage as well as interest for peace and prosperity in the region, he said.
He emphasized on more contacts and interaction between the two countries to further enhance bilateral relations in all the fields.
On the issue of terrorism, the prime minister said that terrorism is a serious threat to the entire region and all the countries need to work collectively to fight this menace. Greater collaboration and coordination in this regard he said would greatly help in combating and eliminating this menace. The government and the people of Pakistan, he said, are determined to fight the disturbing trends of extremism which endanger peace and harmony of the society.
While referring the importance of energy requirements the prime minister called upon the need for more collaboration among the regional countries. in this regard, he said that all the regional countries need to develop an integrated approach to help meet the energy demands. The gas pipeline project from Iran to Pakistan and beyond would greatly help to meet the much needed energy requirements of the countries.
Jalali said that Pakistan and Iran have close brotherly relations which are time tested.
The relations between the two brotherly countries, he said, are an example of good neighborly ties.
While expressing condolence over the tragic assassination of Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto and killing of innocent people at a suicide bomb blast at Lahore, he said such heinous acts could not deter both the countries to fight terrorism and expressed solidarity with the government and the people of Pakistan.
While talking about the importance of Inter-Parliamentary Union of Islamic states, Jalali said this forum could play an important role in promoting relations among the Muslim countries.
The meeting was attended by the Acting Chairman Senate, Jan Muhammad Jamali, Caretaker Foreign Minister, Inam ul Haq, Iranian Ambassador in Pakistan, Mashaallah Shakeri and other higher officials.