Pakistan and Iran Target $10 Billion Trade Goal with Enhanced Border Cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and Mansour Bijar, Governor of Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, convened a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday, committing to deepen bilateral trade, strengthen border management, and foster regional stability.

The discussions covered the full spectrum of Pakistan-Iran relations, focusing on trade expansion, border market operations, investment pipelines, security coordination, and economic connectivity. Governor Bijar stated the visit’s core aim was to elevate economic ties, noting that current bilateral trade stands near $3 billion but holds the potential to reach $10 billion through concerted joint efforts. He emphasized that invigorating border commerce would stimulate local economies while simultaneously mitigating shared security threats.

Chief Minister Bugti reiterated his administration’s dedication to advancing border barter trade and achieving the $10 billion target. He concurred that expanded economic opportunity serves as a critical pillar for lasting peace and an improved security landscape across the region.

To operationalize this vision, Bugti announced plans to revitalize the three existing border markets along the shared frontier and establish new ones, aiming to generate employment and streamline commerce for border communities. He also highlighted the strategic significance of the proposed Chagai-Sukkur railway upgrade, a project poised to enhance cargo logistics and further integrate bilateral supply chains.

On the security front, the Chief Minister revealed the formation of a dedicated security division tasked with safeguarding the Western Corridor. The initiative is designed to protect the mineral transit route, facilitate seamless trade with Iran, and cement broader economic linkages.

Stressing that sustainable development rests on enduring peace, Bugti urged coordinated action to neutralize non-state actors operating from either territory, ensuring communities on both sides of the border reap the dividends of stability and prosperity.

Further diversifying the trade portfolio, Bugti briefed the Iranian delegation on the development of modern slaughterhouses and cold storage infrastructure to boost livestock exports, inviting Iranian capital investment in the sector.

To ensure sustained momentum, the Chief Minister proposed forming joint working groups spanning trade, investment, border cooperation, infrastructure, agriculture, livestock, and people-to-people exchanges, institutionalizing a framework for regular progress reviews.

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