Iran-Pakistan trade can reach $10 billion: Ahmadinejad

TEHRAN,Feb.18(MNA)--Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who is on a tour of Pakistan offered to boost bilateral trade with Islamabad to $10 billion within two months, according to the Pakistan Tribune newspaper. The offer came as Islamabad is hosting a trilateral summit involving the presidents of the three neighboring countries of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan Ahmadinejad showed an interest in buying wheat and rice from Pakistan. The Iranian president, who arrived in Islamabad on Thursday, held separate meetings with Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. President Zardari stressed the need for enhancing economic cooperation with Iran and make joint efforts to promote regional peace and security. Zardari proposed encouraging barter and trading in local currencies besides removing tariff and non-tariff barriers. Zardari also said that Pakistan and Iran could benefit in the trade of wheat, fertilizers, cement and other commodities.