LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Iran is a brotherly country of Pakistan and their bonds will get stronger in the time to come. He said people of Iran and Pakistan hold close affinity on many counts as such their relations would cement further with the passage of time and no attempt to create rift between them would succeed. He said his visit to Iran has yielded positive results besides paving the way for cooperation between Punjab and Khorassan in different sectors. The Chief Minister was talking to the Consul General of Iran Saeed Kharazi who called on him at CM's Secretariat, here Saturday. Regional situation, cooperation in various areas and matters of mutual interest were discussed in the meeting. Talking to the distinguished guest, the Chief Minister said Iran had always stood by Pakistan in the hour of need. He said brotherly ties, love and bilateral economic, social and cultural relations between the two countries would grow further in future. He said people of Iran and Pakistan are peace-loving and held out assurance on behalf of PML-N Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the government and the people of Pakistan, that they would not only develop more cordial and close ties with the people of Iran in future but they would also not let anyone succeed who tried to create misunderstanding between the two countries. Strongly condemning the Seestan incident, the CM shared on behalf of the people of Pakistan the grief of Iranian people on this incident. He said strengthening relations between the two counties is the need of the hour and emphasized the need of maximum exchange of delegations between Iran and Pakistan for the promotion of trade, economic and cultural relations for bringing people of the two counties closer to each other. He said Punjab wants to benefit from the expertise of Iran in various sectors and after his visit to Iran, Secretary Transport, officers of Parks & Horticulture Authority and other departments have also visited Kharasan for cooperation in various sectrs between Punjab and Kharasan. He also issued instructions for setting up of a working group between Punjab and Kharasan under the chairmanship of a provincial minister. Expressing sentiments of goodwill for the people of Iran, the Chief Minister prayed for their progress and prosperity and strengthening of friendship between people of Iran and Pakistan. The Consul General of Iran Saeed Kharazi said that Pakistan and Iran have friendly relations and both the countries have a common history and culture. He said that Iranian people have a great respect and love for Allama Muhammad Iqbal. He expressed deep sense of sorrow over the loss of innocent and precious lives in the incidents of terrorism in Pakistan and expressed the hope that peace will be restored in the country and Pakistan will progress and attain prosperity. He said Iran and Pakistan are peace-loving countries and promotion of cooperation in all sectors between them is need of the hour. He said that the visit of Chief Minister to Iran will promote cooperation between Kharassan and Punjab and strengthen relations between the two countries.