By NNN-APP,
Tehran : Federal Minister for Finance Syed Naveed Qamar called on the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday in his office.
The Minister of Finance was accompanied by high ranking delegation and Ambassador of Pakistan Shafkat Saeed.
The Iranian President stated that Joint Economic Commission was the proper forum to optimize bilateral economic relations and suggested that the scope of JEC should be enhanced to include all possible sectors with main emphasis on energy, technology transfer, culture and health etc.
He said that Pakistan should benefit from the expertise that Iran has achieved in certain sectors and likewise. He said with lot of warmth that progress of Pakistan is dear to Iran and Iran remains grateful to Pakistan for its support that it had extended to Iran.
On IPI the Iranian President said that we will witness the finalization of gas pipeline project in very near future.
He also cautioned that both countries must remain vigilant and not allow their enemies to spoil the bilateral relations. He asked the Minister of Finance to convey his good wishes and greetings to the President, Prime Minister and people of Pakistan.
On his part, the Finance Minister Syed Naveed Qamar said that Pakistan considered Iran as its true brotherly neighbor and informed that the ongoing Joint Economic Commission is expected to proceed and further enhance cooperation in all possible sectors.
He also informed Iranian President that during his two day stay in Tehran, he held very important and useful meetings with the Iranian Ministers of Interior, Commerce, Finance , Petroleum and that he would soon call on Minister for Energy. The Minister informed that Pakistan has always supported Iran in all international and regional forums and that Pakistan would continue to do so.
The President of Iran conveyed his deep sorrow and offered his condolences on the tragic death of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and asked the Minister of Finance to convey his condolences to Asif Ali Zardari, Co- Chairman, Pakistan Peoples Party.