Pakistan may strike commercial deals with Iran

Islamabad: Energy-starved Pakistan may strike multiple commercial deals with Iran on import of 3,000MW of electricity and construction of a gas pipeline during Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s first official visit here this month.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif met the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost to discuss Rouhani’s visit. “Pakistan is looking forward to the scheduled visit from March 25 to 26 of President of Iran and hopes that it would further strengthen relations between the two countries,” the ministry quoted Asif as saying.

Sharif last visited Tehran in January to ease tension between Tehran and Riyadh in the aftermath of the execution of activist and Shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr, by Saudi authorities. It will be first visit by any Iranian president after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Islamabad in 2012.