Iran, Pakistan plan to increase trade to $10 bn in first step

"Pakistan and Iran are concerned about the situation of the people of Gaza and condemn the crimes of the Zionist regime," Pakistani prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said at his joint press conference with the Iranian president Ebrahim Raeisi in Islamabad on Monday.

"We call on all the countries in the world to cooperate to end the crimes in Gaza as soon as possible," the Pakistani premier added.

"A fair and detailed solution to the Palestinian issue is necessary; Pakistan does not condition its support for Palestine and continues to cooperate with Iran until the formation of a free Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," he added.

The Iranian president, for his part, "We respect the people of Pakistan who are fed up with the oppression of the Zionist regime." "I would like to salute the people of Pakistan and the laudable positions of the government of Pakistan," he stressed.

Raeisi went on to say that "The relations between the two countries will be enhanced in all economic, political, commercial and cultural fields."

The president said that the two nations share the same position on the fight against terrorism. "Both emphasize the fight against insecurity and terrorism, organized crime and drugs."

"The level of economic and commercial relations between the two countries by no means acceptable; Therefore, we decided that the level of commercial and economic relations between the two countries will increase to $10 billion annually in the first step," he added.

"The border between the two countries is an opportunity that can be used for the welfare of the two nations. The border symbolizes cooperation between two countries," Raeisi further said.

KI