Pakistan, Iran entering new-phase to ensure food security

August 18, 2022: Pak-Iran relations are entering a new phase based on mutually beneficial agriculture ties to ensure food security in both countries, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Tariq Bashir Cheema said on Thursday during a meeting with Abbas Askarzadeh, Iranian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Jihad.

The barter trade between Pakistan and Iran will enhance and facilitate both sides soon. Under the barter trade, Pakistan will export oranges in exchange for Iranian apples, he added.

Iranian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Jihad while agreeing, said that barter trade between Pakistan and Iran has very promising prospects. In the coming days under the barter agreement, both countries will share a list of products that they will trade under the said agreement. Federal Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema hoped that both countries will work in the future together for the betterment of the agriculture sector and the welfare of people of the both countries.

Abbas Askarzadeh, Iranian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Jihad thanked for hosting him at the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. He said that he is delighted to work with Pakistan and looking forward to increase cooperation and partnership in the agriculture sector with Pakistan.

He added Iran will meet the agricultural needs of Pakistan and will introduce Pakistani agricultural products to Iran. Iranian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Jihad said that Pakistan and Iran are neighbors which share a special connection of Islam. He said that there is a huge potential for trade between the two countries, unfortunately, which was not capitalized on in the past.

 He invited Federal Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema to visit Iran and hold a meeting with the Iranian Agricultural Jihad Minister to further promote trade relations in agriculture. Federal Minster underlined that there is vast potential existing in the trade and agriculture cooperation which should be materialized by overcoming the hurdles and venturing into collaborations.

Both sides discussed trade options on fertilizer and urea to help meet the local consumption. During the meeting, both vowed to meet the agricultural products’ local demand in the two counties.

Press Release