ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told members of his country's diplomatic mission in Tehran that establishment of trade centers at the Pak-Iran border would not only increase commercial activities between the two countries but also bring about a positive change in the lives of people on both sides of the frontier.
According to Radio Pakistan, Qureshi said the Iranian authorities had agreed to his proposal and were willing to set up these centers.
The foreign minister is currently visiting Iran and is likely to meet President Hassan Rouhani later today.
Pakistan has set aside about $20 million to fence its 900-kilometer border with Iran since officials in Islamabad have frequently complained about cross-border militancy and illegal fuel smuggling from Iran.
The residents of the border region, however, face serious livelihood issues, forcing them to resort to illegal trade and commercial activities.
While the two countries have routinely discussed border management issues, the Pakistani foreign minister's proposal seeks to address the core of the problem by benefiting local communities on both sides of the frontier through mutual collaboration.
The two sides are now expected to sign a memorandum of understanding for the opening the border trade centers after Qureshi's delegation-level talks with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif.
