PESHAWAR - The governments of Iran and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have decided to implement the agreements of bilateral development in latter and spirit that were inked in the past as well as form committees on ministers level to benefit from each other expertise in energy generation and education sectors.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak made it clear that friendly relations and cooperation with neighbouring countries are the top most priorities of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), saying the coalition provincial government of his party is strictly following the same principles.
He expressed these views while talking to the Acting Consul General of Iran Saeid Zenati here in the CM Secretariat Peshawar and offered extended cooperation of Iran in different sectors as well as repeated the invitation of the visit of Iran by the chief minister to witness the progress there by himself.
Saeid Zenati revealed that Iranian president is taking keen interest in speedy development of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and furthering bilateral relations among the people and governments on both sides. “He also wants to declare more Iranian cities and provinces other than Sheraz and Isfhan as twin and signing agreements for developmental purposes,” he maintained. During the meeting, the chief minister and the Consul General of Iran discussed matters of bilateral interest and agreed on enhancement of cooperation and exchange of delegations in different sectors, including energy generation, exploration of oil and gas, education, health, agriculture, livestock and tourism.
The chief minister said that his government is keen for promotion of cordial relations with all neighbours to turn the region that is victim of poverty and backwardness into the cradle of peace and development. He acknowledged that Islamic Republic of Iran is our brotherly Islamic state and both countries are enjoying durable friendly relations, which will be further strengthened and stable with the passage of time.
He said that Iran is the principles-loving state and the pace of its development despite international sanctions is a precedent for the Ummah. Hinting at the re-invitation of visit to Iran for reviewing the cooperation in various sectors and witnessing progress and development in Iran, he explained that he is not in favour of foreign visits for the sake of entertainment.
He said that he believed in foreign trips at high level with the soul agenda of public interest and candid targets and this very fact has also been explained to the federal government for accompanying with the prime minister for official visits abroad.  Therefore, he said first the experts of Iran and government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will have to sit together to review the possibilities of cooperation in different sectors.
He however said that bilateral cooperation in different sectors for development will bear positive and far-reaching impacts and will help bringing the people of both countries closer to each other.
The PTI government, he said, had come into power with the manifesto of giving pleasant change, provision of relief and establishment of corruption-free environment. He said these commitments would be achieved at all costs and in any circumstances. He said that for the achievement of the set targets of development the cooperation of friendly states is need of the hour.
The chief minister also informed the Iranian diplomat of the measures taken for progress and development in other social sectors and for promotion of cooperation in this regard. He said that after mutual consultations and identification they will convene departmental meetings in this regard to promote bilateral cooperation and relations in real sense.
He also expressed satisfaction that with the passage of time relations between Pakistan and Iran are strengthened. He stressed the need for making the resources, development, experience and manpower more beneficial for each other. Later, gifts were also exchanged.