President Zardari Instructs Iran Ambassador-Designate to Prioritise Trade Ties
President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday directed Pakistan's newly designated ambassador to Iran to concentrate on expanding bilateral trade and fostering people-to-people contacts, framing economic engagement as the centrepiece of Islamabad's Tehran policy.
The instruction was delivered during a meeting with the ambassador-designate at Aiwan-e-Sadar, where the president underscored the importance of leveraging geographic proximity and cultural affinity to deepen Pakistan-Iran economic integration. The two countries share a long border and have historically maintained complex but enduring ties.
President Zardari's directive aligns with Pakistan's broader effort to diversify its trade partnerships and reduce dependence on traditional markets. Pakistan and Iran have in recent years discussed cross-border trade routes, barter mechanisms, and border market frameworks, though sanctions-related constraints on Iran continue to limit the full normalisation of commercial ties.
The appointment of the new ambassador comes at a time when Pakistan is recalibrating its regional diplomacy, with senior officials having engaged Tehran on multiple occasions over bilateral connectivity and energy cooperation. The president's emphasis on people-to-people contacts signals intent to expand cultural and educational exchanges alongside commercial linkages.
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