Diplomats and foreign policy experts expressed these views during a "Iran-Pakistan Economic Partnership in the Post-Koro Naka Era" seminar organized by the Golden Ring Economic Federation (GREF) in Lahore in collaboration with the Iranian Embassy. In the webinar, Mashaallah Shakiri, Advisor to the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran and former Ambassador to Pakistan, and Madood Mohammad Zamani, a senior expert at the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS), spoke about the bilateral cooperation between the two neighboring countries through video link. Presented a broad view about Other speakers at the webinar were Hasnain Raza Mirza, director of the Golden Ring Economic Research Institute, defense analyst Lt. Gen. (retd) Sikandar Afzal Arif Kamal and former Pakistani ambassador Sanaullah, and Qandil Abbas, a professor of international relations at Quaid-e-Azam University.
The participants explained the important and key policies of the two countries, particularly the development of the Persian Gulf, the subcontinent in Afghanistan, and their impact on security and economic stability in the region. The Iranian diplomats considered the development of cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries as an important factor in the expansion of Iran-Pakistan relations and said that the connection of Chabahar and Gwadar ports would pave the way for regional cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
They emphasized the use of the potential of regional economic cooperation organizations, including the ECO, and said that the Islamic Republic of Iran was ready to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Pakistani experts emphasized the importance of Iran's involvement in the C-Pec project, saying it would strengthen long-term co-operation between Tehran and Beijing. He praised Iran's easing of tough sanctions and stressed the importance of advancing energy projects in the region, including the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project with China, to avoid US pressure and sanctions. The Pakistani speakers called for the establishment of a joint working group in partnership between the private sectors of the two countries to find ways of development. The Iranian speakers also praised the recent remarks of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in support of the Palestinian people against the Israeli government.
The concept of the Golden Ring Economic Block was launched in 2010 on the basis of which the GREF was established in 2015.
