ISLAMABAD, 21 MAR (DNA) – Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, will visit Pakistan this week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday.

In January the Prime Minister paid a bilateral visit Iran and had extended invitation to the Iranian President to visit Pakistan.  “I am looking forward to welcoming President Rouhani later this week,” Mr Sharif said in his meeting with Iranian ambassador, Mehdi Honardoost, in Islamabad.

“The visit would be a great opportunity for us to review the whole range of bilateral relations and further strengthen the brotherly ties,” said the Prime Minister, an official statement said. Sources say both sides will review the progress on the multi-billion Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project in the sanction-free environment.

Pakistan has already lifted sanctions on Iran after the United Nations eased the curbs on the Islamic Republic.   Nawaz Sharif also welcomed lifting of the international sanctions on Iran.

“We are pleased to note that international economic sanctions on Iran have been lifted; paving the way for expeditious resumption of commercial and economic ties between our countries,” said the Prime Minister.

The Iranian ambassador Mehdi Honardoost said that the current figures of bilateral trade between Iran and Pakistan do not reflect the enormous potential that exists between the two countries.

“We need to seize the moment by redoubling our efforts to achieve the target of 5 billion US dollars set by yourself and President Rouhani during your visit to Iran in May 2014,” the Ambassador said to the Prime Minister. DNA