QUE T TA: Increase in trade activities between Pakistan and Iran is the need of the hour and the two countries should cooperate with each other for giving a boost to their economies so that they both could face economic challenges they are facing currently.

These views were expressed during a meeting between Collector Customs Appeasement and Facilitation Abdul Waheed Marwat and the in-charge of the Economic Affairs of the Consulate General of Iran, Hussain Jaffari, at Customs House here on Saturday.Mr Marwat briefed the Iranian envoy on the ongoing ITTMS project launched by the Asian Development Bank in Chaman through which import and export would be streamlined on modern lines.

`The Pakistan government is interested in launching this project at the Taftan border with Iran so trade activities could be expanded between the two countries on modern lines,` Mr Marwat said. He informed the Iranian envoy about reservations of the Pakistan government over export of white spirit and requested the Iranian government for taking extra checking to ensure security standards of white spirit. He said that the Pakistan government was providing maximum facilities to Iranian traders.