Islamabad: (Parliament times) Chairman for the Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security of Iran, Allauddin Boroujerdi in Islamabad on Friday proposed joint visit of Gwadar and Chabahar ports by members of Pakistani and Iranian foreign affairs committees.
This visit is aimed at dispelling notion that Gwadar and Chabahar are competitors. Date for proposed visit would be finalized by diplomatic sources.
Boroujerdi, during his visit to Pakistan, vehemently dismissed this notion that their exists any sort of competition between two ports but unusual interest of India in construction and upgradation of Iranian port creates doubts in Pakistani camp. It may be recalled that India has poured huge investment in Chabahar.
Gwadar port will see fourty million tonnes of cargo going through it upon completion which would be far greater in numbers than its neighboring Iranian port whereas joint capacity of all Indian ports stand at fifty million tonnes.
Gwadar and Chabahar are deep sea ports with distance of merely 72 miles. Both ports would provide employment to millions whereas two neighboring countries view these ports as dawn of new economic age.
Addressing news conference in Islamabad on Friday, Allauddin Boroujerdi said Pakistan and Iran have agreed to enhance bilateral trade from one billion to five billion dollars.
He said Gwadar and Chabahar are sister ports, and they will help boost bilateral trade.
He said Iran Pakistan Gas Pipeline is on the top priorities of both the countries.