Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iran’s President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi jointly inaugurated the Mand-Pishin border sustenance market, aiming to boost bilateral trade and economic growth. This market is one of six constructed along the Pak-Iran border, providing a platform for increased cross-border trade and opportunities for local businesses.
During the inauguration, the leaders planted a sapling symbolizing the progress in bilateral relations between the two countries. Accompanying Prime Minister Shehbaz were Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Power Minister Khurram Dastagir, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, and senior officials from both Pakistan and Iran.
The joint inauguration signifies the commitment of Pakistan and Iran to improve the welfare of residents in the neighboring provinces of Balochistan and Sistan-o-Baluchestan, as stated by the Foreign Office.
In addition to the border market, Prime Minister Shehbaz and the Iranian president also inaugurated the 100MW Polan-Gabd electricity transmission line project from Iran to Gwadar at the Mand-Pishin crossing point. This project, pending since 2009, was completed in a record time of four months under Prime Minister Shehbaz’s leadership. It is expected to contribute to the development, trade, business, and employment opportunities in Gwadar and Balochistan.
In an interview, Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasized the significance of enhanced cooperation with Iran, particularly in energy projects and border markets. He described these projects as symbolic of the strong Pakistan-Iran friendship. The Mand-Pishin border marketplace and the Polan-Gabd electricity project are tangible manifestations of this joint resolution and will improve the socioeconomic conditions of the border regions while fostering new opportunities for local businesses. Prime Minister Shehbaz also highlighted the potential for trade between Pakistan and Iran, expressing the desire to achieve an annual trade volume of $5 billion. The operationalization of the barter trade mechanism is seen as a significant step towards realizing this goal.