Speaking at the opening session of the 10th Iran-Pakistan Joint Trade Committee in Islamabad, Atabak thanked the Pakistani government and people for their friendly stance and support during recent developments.
He said Iran's strategic policy is to expand comprehensive cooperation with neighboring, Muslim and like-minded countries, particularly Pakistan, describing the neighboring country as a "friendly and brotherly" nation.
The minister noted that political and economic interactions between Tehran and Islamabad reflect a strong determination on both sides to deepen bilateral relations.
Atabak said economic cooperation has steadily grown in recent years, with annual bilateral trade reaching nearly $3 billion. He noted that the two governments have set a target of $10 billion in trade, saying the goal reflects the vast untapped potential of bilateral economic relations.
He stressed that the implementation of a free trade agreement would unlock even greater opportunities for commerce between the two countries.
Describing Pakistan as a "stable and strategic partner" for Iran, Atabak said Tehran is interested in sourcing some goods that it previously imported from other countries through Pakistan's production capacity, particularly agricultural products and food items such as rice, meat and other commodities.
He also said Iranian businesses are eager to expand their presence in the Pakistani market, while emphasizing that smoother trade would require addressing challenges related to transportation, border infrastructure, customs procedures, quarantine regulations, and tariff and non-tariff barriers.
The minister highlighted the strategic importance of Pakistan's Karachi and Gwadar ports, saying they could serve as complementary gateways for the re-export of Iranian goods and the supply of raw materials needed by Iranian industries, while also strengthening regional economic cooperation.
He further pointed to the strategic location of Iran and Pakistan along East-West international transport corridors, saying closer cooperation in transport and transit could improve connectivity between European and Asian markets and enhance the two countries' regional competitiveness.
Atabak called for expediting negotiations on a free trade agreement, saying that implementing the PTA and activating barter trade would further integrate the two economies and increase bilateral trade.
Addressing the same meeting, Pakistani Federal Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan said the two countries have been taking coordinated steps to remove obstacles to trade, improve border infrastructure and streamline customs procedures.
"We are determined to finalize the free trade agreement between Iran and Pakistan," he said.