By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: A delegation from the Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industries visited the Iranian consulate in Peshawar on Tuesday to express solidarity with the Iranian nation over its sacrifices in the recent Iran-Israel conflict and to discuss trade facilitation issues between Iran and Pakistan.
Khyber Chamber of Commerce patron-in-chief Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi led the delegation, which also held detailed discussions with Iranian Consul General Ali Banafsheh Khan on enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
KCCI executive members Kamran Raza, Sagheer Dad Afridi, Malik Ijaz Afridi, Muhammad Haroon Sabir, Ejaz Zarin Khattak, Shahzeb Khan, Ali Faisal and senior journalist and former president of the Tribal Union of Journalists, Qazi Fazlullah, were also part of the delegation.
The delegation paid tribute to Iran’s resilience and offered condolences and prayers for those martyred during the conflict. Iranian commercial Attaché Hossein Moazzami was also present during the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Syed Jawad Kazmi said that Iran had firmly responded to aggression from Israel and the United States, calling it a significant moment in the defence of the Islamic world. He stated that Iran’s bold stance compelled both countries to agree to a ceasefire, which marked a diplomatic victory for the region. He stressed the importance of stronger cooperation among Muslim nations and the need to remove hurdles in bilateral trade.
Kazmi said that the Khyber Chamber, in collaboration with Iranian traders, would organize an industrial exhibition in Peshawar in the coming two months, with active participation from Iranian businesses.
In response, Consul General Ali Banafsheh Khan expressed gratitude to the Khyber Chamber delegation and acknowledged Pakistan’s consistent support during the crisis. He said the people of Iran deeply value Pakistan’s stance and solidarity, particularly at diplomatic levels. He added that Iran has already minimized tariffs on Pakistani imports to promote trade and expressed hope for a similar response from the Pakistani side.
