Iranian President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened on Monday to explore avenues for advancing bilateral relations and fostering cooperation across various spheres of mutual interest.
In his address, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed the wholehearted welcome of the Pakistani nation towards the visit of the Iranian president, marking it as the first such visit by a head of state following the general elections in Pakistan.
The Iranian president conveyed appreciation to the prime minister for the warm reception extended to him.
Additionally, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Iranian President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi in Islamabad, where they deliberated on bilateral ties alongside regional and global developments. Both stressed the significance of intensified efforts to bolster bilateral relations across diverse domains and reaffirmed their commitment to peace and constructive dialogue for addressing regional challenges.
A formal reception ceremony honoring Iranian President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi took place at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad, featuring a meticulously presented guard of honor by the armed forces and renditions of both nations' anthems. Subsequently, the Prime Minister introduced his cabinet members to the Iranian President, and in observance of International Earth Day, they jointly planted a sapling at the Prime Minister's House.
Earlier in the day, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Pakistan for a three-day state visit, warmly greeted by Federal Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada upon his arrival at Nur Khan Airbase. This marks the first visit by a head of state to Pakistan post the February 2024 general elections.
Throughout his stay, President Raisi is scheduled to meet with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, with planned visits to Lahore and Karachi for discussions with provincial leadership.
The visit holds substantial significance as it aims to broaden Pakistan-Iran ties and enhance cooperation in various domains, including trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, and people-to-people interactions. Moreover, discussions on regional and global developments, as well as bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism, are on the agenda.
Pakistan and Iran share robust bilateral relations deeply rooted in history, culture, and religion, and this visit presents a crucial opportunity to further strengthen their ties.
This high-profile visit follows a recent visit by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, during which Islamabad extended invitations for joint business ventures, signaling Pakistan's efforts to bolster foreign investment amidst economic challenges.
Furthermore, the visit comes amidst tensions between Iran and Israel, which escalated recently but did not result in a major regional conflict as initially feared.
Regarding energy cooperation, Pakistan aims to revive the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline project, although challenges remain due to US sanctions targeting Iran, which have become stricter following the withdrawal of the US from the Iran nuclear deal during the presidency of Donald Trump.
