ISLAMABAD: Pakistan offered to enhance exports of agricultural goods and pesticides to Iran on Tuesday, as Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain met Iranian First Vice President Dr. Mohammad Reza Aref in Tehran to reaffirm both countries’ commitment to raising bilateral trade to $10 billion.
The Pakistani minister’s visit followed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s first official visit to Pakistan earlier this month since taking over his country’s top executive office.
During that trip, both sides agreed to boost trade from around $3 billion to $10 billion, signing multiple agreements across trade, energy and infrastructure sectors.
“Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, called on the First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Mohammad Reza Aref, at the Presidency in Tehran,” said an official statement circulated after the meeting.
“He underlined Pakistan’s readiness to enhance exports of rice, corn, bananas, meat and livestock to Iran, while also highlighting opportunities for Iran to import high-quality pesticides and other agricultural products from Pakistan,” it continued. “The Federal Minister emphasized that greater cooperation in agriculture and food security could act as a catalyst for overall economic integration between the two brotherly countries.”
Iran’s first vice president praised the proposal as constructive. He reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to reaching the bilateral trade target and announced that the next session of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) of the two countries would be convened soon to consolidate progress and identify new areas of cooperation.
Both sides expressed optimism that collaboration in agriculture and food security would unlock broader economic opportunities and regional stability.
In recent years, Pakistan and Iran have primarily discussed barter trade frameworks to bypass financial and currency hurdles.
Sanctions and foreign exchange shortages remain major obstacles for Iran, making barter system and border markets key features of its trade approach to Pakistan.
