Pakistan could benefit from Chabahar port: PM adviser

Islamabad, May 26, IRNA – Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz commenting on a recent transit agreement between Iran, India, and Afghanistan said regional cooperation is a desirable idea and Pakistan could also benefit from Chabahar port.

Replying to a question of IRNA at press conference here on Thursday, he said Chabahar is an alternative port in the region which people can use for better trade.

Pointing to some trade and transit development projects in the region including Chabahar port, Gwadar port and China Pakistan Economic Corridor, the adviser said that all projects are beneficial for the whole region.

He added that Pakistan is building a road between Chabahar and Gwadar which would help in improving connectivity between the two ports.

“I don’t see any conflict in these projects and I hope that our efforts to provide better facilities for traders in Afghanistan and traders in Iran continue to be further strengthened and this will enable trade between both the countries to expand,” he said.

To another question he said there is a proposal to make Chabahar and Gwadar as sister ports. He went on to say that Pakistan is itself developing its own cooperation with Iran on border trade and is also doing transit trade with Afghanistan by upgrading Torkham and Chaman crossing points so that all the traders could have better facilities.

“These routes are complimentary to each other so I don’t think there is something to worry about. Regional cooperation as a whole is a desirable idea,” he said.

By IRNA