Iran, Pakistan to Establish Joint Airline Company

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran and Pakistan have agreed to set up a joint airline company to facilitate visits by the two countries' nationals, Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi announced on Tuesday.
"We have decided to establish Iran-Pakistan joint airline company in a bid to increase and facilitate exchange of visits by the two countries' people," Rahimi said during joint press conference with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here in Tehran on Tuesday.

He further underlined that an all-out expansion of ties between the two neighboring states requires preparing the needed grounds, including construction of roads and rail links between Iran and Pakistan.

"Today, Iran and Pakistan are moving hand in hand to attain their specific goals, and we can link the Far East to South Asia, Africa and Europe.

"We can take our first step in the Middle-East and a second step in intercontinental transiting," the Iranian vice-president added.

Earlier this month, Iranian and Pakistani officials signed several agreements on mutual cooperation at the end of their 18th Joint Economic Cooperation Commission meeting in Islamabad.

During the 18th meeting of the Iran-Pakistan Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, officials of the two sides evaluated progress in the implementation of the decisions taken during the previous session in Tehran in 2008.

At the meeting the two sides endorsed three agreements on Economic and Technical Cooperation, establishment of Iran-Pakistan Investment Company and cooperation in Electronic Media between Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation and PTV and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

The MoUs were signed by Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and Pakistani Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh.

Iran and Pakistan have been enjoying cordial and brotherly ties for a long time.

Analysts say that strong bilateral relations between Iran and Pakistan are vital for the stability of the region.