The bilateral growth plan emerged from talks held in Islamabad on Thursday between Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Ambassador Moghaddam, covering cross-border power supplies, regional trade, and infrastructure investments.
Bilateral Commerce and Port Routing Plans
Beyond the financial targets, Iran has signaled strong interest in channeling a significant share of this commerce directly through Pakistani ports. Ambassador Moghaddam also credited Pakistan for staying current on payments under the existing electricity billing arrangement between the two neighboring countries. Furthermore, the ambassador noted that Pakistani institutions such as CPPA-G, QESCO, and NGC are slated to receive invitations to Tehran for the next round of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Commission. Alongside power sector ties, Moghaddam pointed to clear opportunities to expand cooperation in agriculture and food trade.
Cross-Border Energy Links and Grid Expansion
Energy cooperation remains a central pillar of bilateral ties, with a second cross-border transmission line set to break ground soon. Both governments are actively discussing an expansion of the existing 100MW electricity supply deal. Ambassador Moghaddam thanked Pakistan for standing by Iran during difficult periods, identifying current transmission links as tangible proof of an active energy relationship. Minister Leghari praised Iran for maintaining power supplies despite a volatile security backdrop, floating the idea of sending Pakistani engineers to study how the Iranian grid has sustained its operations under intense pressure. Leghari also framed the meeting around decades-old ties, arguing that neither nation has been insulated from regional turbulence. He noted that Pakistan’s economy has absorbed shocks from climbing global energy costs, specifically highlighting liquefied natural gas (RLNG) price increases as a severe strain, while emphasizing that ordinary citizens desire regional calm and that Islamabad’s leadership remains engaged with Tehran to prioritize dialogue over confrontation.
Gwadar Power Infrastructure and Future Outlook
The long-term development of Gwadar is directly tied to securing reliable power supplies, according to Minister Leghari. While Iranian electricity continues to flow into the port city without interruption, Leghari acknowledged that Gwadar’s local network still requires fresh investment to shore up operational reliability. To address these demands, Pakistan is exploring the construction of domestic generation capacity within the port city. At the same time, Leghari stressed that Iranian power imports will remain central to Pakistan’s long-term energy plans and could increase as demand in Gwadar climbs. As both nations prepare for upcoming Joint Commission meetings and work toward the $4 billion trade milestone, further discussions could solidify the framework for routing additional cargo through Pakistani ports and finalizing construction timelines for the second transmission line.
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