Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and Governor of Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province Mansour Bijar met in Islamabad on Tuesday and agreed to strengthen bilateral trade, border cooperation, investment and regional stability.

Governor Bijar said his visit was aimed at expanding economic ties between the two neighbours, noting that bilateral trade, currently around $3 billion, could be raised to $10 billion through joint efforts. Bugti reaffirmed Balochistan's commitment to border barter trade and the $10 billion target, saying expanded economic activity would also improve regional security.

The chief minister said the three existing Pakistan-Iran border markets would be made more active, with additional markets planned to create jobs for border communities. He called the proposed Chagai-Sukkur railway upgrade a strategically important project for boosting cargo transport and trade.

Bugti also announced a dedicated security division to protect and monitor the Western Corridor, aimed at securing the mineral corridor while facilitating trade with Iran. He called for coordinated action by both countries against non-state actors operating along the border, and said Balochistan was developing modern slaughterhouses and cold storage facilities, inviting Iranian investment in livestock trade.

To formalise cooperation, Bugti proposed joint working groups between the two governments to track progress on trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, livestock and people-to-people exchanges.