According to the IRNA Political Desk reporter, Ali-Akbar Salehi added at a ceremony to commemorate the national occasion at the residence of Pakistan`s Charege d`Affaires to Tehran, `The trade balance between Iran and Pakistan is around 1.2 billion dollars today.`
The Pakistani diplomat to Tehran Aman Rashid, too, said at the ceremony, `The people of Pakistan achieved the independence of their country in the year 1974 after a seven year struggle for liberty.`
He reiterated, `Today Pakistan?s interior Minister Rahman Malek, took a trip to Iran?s Kurdistan Province to meet President (Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad and the objective of his meeting was to continue the process of growing bilateral contacts at high level officials? level.`
He said, `The Pak interior minister in the meeting referred to the status of the region and the existing tension caused by certain countries, asking for strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation.`
Aman Rashid said that the two countries? cultural relations are strong, friendly, and very close, appreciating the Islamic Republic of Iran for assisting the flood stricken regions? people of Pakistan in the process of their reconstruction of their damaged homes.
Referring to Tehran-Islamabad economic ties, too, the Pakistani Charge d`Affaires reiterated, `The two countries? economic ties are growing well and have the capacity of reaching four billion US dollars.`
He said, `In order to facilitate the construction process of the gas pipeline between the two countries a high ranking Pakistani delegation visited the Islamic Republic of Iran recently and had talks with Iranian officials, while the completion of the multi billion dollar project is underway.`
The accredited Pak minister focusing on the regional developments and the ongoing revolutions in several countries in the Persian Gulf region and beyond, particularly in Bahrain, said, `Pakistan?s policy is maintaining neutrality and refraining from interference in ongoing drastic developments.`
Also present at the Pakistan National Day ceremony there were a number of foreign countries? ambassadors, charge d?affaires, cultural, military and press attaches, university officials, mangers, authors, and media representatives.(*)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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