ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that early convening of the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) would further strengthen economic linkages between Pakistan and Iran.

“Pakistan is interested in expanding the exchange of goods and bartering, as well as cooperation in the field of energy with Iran,” he said during a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

He exchanged Eid greetings with him besides discussed bilateral relations. In the past couple of days, PM Shehbaz called leaders of five Muslim countries on the occasion of the festival.

Raisi was of the view that the regular holding of the JEC meeting could pave the way for improving the level of relations between the two countries, according to the Iranian presidency statement.

“We are ready to expand fields of relations and increase exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of energy and agriculture,” he said, “the Islamic Republic of Iran attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan.”

Underscoring the significance of historic ties between the two countries, the prime minister reaffirmed his government’s strong commitment to boost bilateral relations in all areas of mutual cooperation.

The prime minister expressed hope that border sustenance markets would soon become functional to facilitate livelihood in the border region.

PM Shehbaz expressed gratitude to the Iranian leadership for extending timely support and lending IL-76 aircraft to Pakistan to help extinguish forest fires in Balochistan.

Appreciating Iran’s cooperation to facilitate the visit of pilgrims every year, the prime minister emphasised the importance of further enhancing people-to-people exchanges.

“Iran is the best friend of the neighbouring countries in different situations,” Iran’s Raisi said.

The premier appreciated Iran’s steadfast support for the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, especially by the supreme leader of Iran.

The Afghan issue also came under discussion, with PM Shehbaz saying: “We want the return of peace and stability to Afghanistan and the improvement of the living conditions of the people of the country, as well as the provision of grounds for the return of Afghan refugees to their own country”.

President Raisi thanked PM Shehbaz for Eid’s felicitations and assured him of Iranian cooperation in further intensifying bilateral trade, particularly the provision of electricity to the Makran Division.

Emphasising the importance of high-level exchanges, the prime minister extended a cordial invitation to the Iranian president to visit Pakistan.

President Raisi invited the prime minister to undertake an official visit to Iran at an early date.