Iran expresses concerns over stoppage of 600 trucks at Pak-Iran border

Iranian trade officials have expressed concerns over the stoppage of 600 Iranian trucks citing bank guarantees which was ended during 2008, reported 24NewsHD TV Channel. 

Iranian diplomat was briefing the members of Senate Standing Committee on Finance which met under the chair of Saleem Mandviwala in Islamabad on Wednesday.  Iranian ambassador said under the agreement signed in 1987 bank guarantee was mandatory conditionbut later this requirement was removed in 2008 when the deal was revised by both sides. 

Iran claimed that now Pakistan has imposed bank guarantee condition on Iranian trucks and Iran was suffering $2.2 million losses on daily basis. 

Iran claimed over 600 trucks carrying goods were standing at the border for the last 6 months and now Iranian trucks have reduced from 600 to 400 trucks. Iranian officials advised Pakistan to develop Gwadar port. 

Senator Farooq Naik on the occasion said briefing by Iranian diplomats was eye opener. He lamented that in Pakistan everyone thinks of his own interests and no one was keen to think about the country. 

Senator Farooq H Naik announced that he would take up the matter with the Prime Minister and the federal cabinet. 

Senator Faisal Vawda said Iranian diplomat’s talks were embarrassing and now neighboring countries were advising Pakistan to fix internal issues. He lamented that due to closure of trade Pakistan was losing $2.2 million dollars every day. 

Senate Standing Committee on Finance which met under the chair of Senator Salim Mandviwala also raised the issue of stopping electricity subsidy to industries in Karachi. Representative of the industry claimed that Karachi Electric has withheld Rs 33 billion electricity subsidy. 

He said Karachi Electric has taken a stay order from the court against the electricity subsidy to industries despite the fact that the federal government has allocated a subsidy of 174 billion rupees for this year's electric industry. 

Saleem Mandviwala expressed dismay that Karachi's industries was being discriminated as the subsidy was released to the entire country but it was withheld for Karachi. 

Reporter Waqas Azeem