Iran and Pakistan share many historical, cultural, linguistic and geographical ties and, of course, they also have significant economic capabilities.
They are located in a common area and have a common border of approximately 909 km.
Both Iran and Pakistan are countries rich in natural resources and, of course, they have various economic capabilities and levers.
Both countries are home to two important and strategic ports, Chabahar and Gwadar, and of course, there are significant religious and literary ties between the two countries, and the nations of both parties are in one way or another linked to each other to others.
Recently, the 21st meeting of the Iran-Pakistan Economic Cooperation Organization decided that trade relations between the two sides would increase to $5 billion by the end of this year.
During this year, Ibrahim Raisi, the 18th President of Iran and Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, opened the first border market of the two countries.
This market is just one of six border markets supposed to be opened near the borders of Iran and Pakistan under an agreement between the two sides reached in 2012.
This market was opened in the ancient village in the southern Balochistan region of Pakistan, located near the Iranian border.
Raisi and Sharif also officially inaugurated a power transmission line that will transport Iranian electricity to rural areas of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan informed the Iranian President that his country would take all necessary measures to strengthen the security of the border with Iran.
He also asked Ibrahim Raisi to visit Islamabad and at the same time emphasized that Iran and Pakistan are serious about developing their trade and economic relations.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan also said that the negotiations on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Free Trade Agreement were also going well, and significant openings were coming in this area.
Relations between Iran and Pakistan have faced serious challenges in recent years due to the insecure activities of individuals and terrorist groups from Pakistan against the interests and security of Iran.
In this context, we have seen that some extremist and terrorist groups attacked the Iranian border through Pakistani soil and, with these movements, they caused an escalation of tensions between Tehran and Islamabad.
In 2013, the two countries signed an agreement allowing Pakistan to receive gas from Iran despite threats and opposition from the United States.
At that time, Tehran stressed that the West had no right to intervene in the process of this project.
However, Western and especially American sanctions against Iran constituted a serious obstacle to the implementation of this project.
Pakistan has attempted to create some sort of balance in its relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia (as two rival regional powers).
However, the signing of the de-escalation agreement between Tehran and Riyadh with the mediation of China in recent months has caused the establishment of a new atmosphere in the form of regional equations.
The opening of a new border market between Iran and Pakistan and at the same time the transfer of the 100 megawatt electricity transmission line from Iran to Pakistan herald in their own way new developments in the relations between the two country.
Meanwhile, energy and oil projects between Iran and Pakistan will play an important role in facilitating and developing relations between the two countries.
Along with the development of cooperation between the two countries in other areas such as solar energy, delegations from both sides are likely to visit the opposing country.
A question that will lead to a further deepening of relations.
Iran and Pakistan have recorded a long history of friendship at the heart of history, which in its own way can evoke a symbol of Islamic unity.
However, these close ties have not yet shown their concrete effects in the areas of business and investment.
The opening of a new border market between Iran and Pakistan can become a center for the development of economic relations between the two countries and provide new opportunities for the growth of local trade.
At the same time, Iran's action in transferring electricity to Pakistan will also solve the problems related to Pakistan's electricity supply to a large extent and may serve as a basis for developing cooperation in broader areas.
Pakistan can buy the oil and gas it needs from Iran at prices lower than the world market and save significant financial resources at a time when Pakistan's economy is facing serious challenges.
At the same time, apart from gaining access to new sources of revenue by expanding trade relations with Pakistan, Iran can create new trade lines in cooperation with Islamabad and derive significant benefits in various fields.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the development of border trade relations between Iran and Pakistan can significantly contribute to the economic prosperity of these regions and the enhancement of the well-being of the Baloch peoples in Pakistan and Iran.
In this situation, we can hope that with the expansion of interactions between people "on both sides of the Iran-Pakistan border" we will witness a serious weakening of the activities of extremist and terrorist groups and, in particular, a reduction of sectarian practices in the region.
Coal is another area where Iran and Pakistan can develop their bilateral relations.
Importing coal from South Africa is very expensive.
With the existence of the Peace Pipeline, Pakistan's capacity to meet its energy needs has increased significantly.
Iran has proposed to Pakistan to establish a trade and compensation system in which Iran gives oil to Pakistan and in return receives grain and crops from Pakistan.
Despite Pakistan's hopes of receiving cheap Russian energy, the price of transporting Russian oil to Pakistan is very high.
Pressure against Russian oil exports increased sharply after the start of the war in Ukraine and the imposition of Western sanctions against Russia and, of course, cooperation with Russia in this area also became very expensive.
A question that makes Iran an attractive partner for Pakistan.
Some may wonder why Pakistan needs Iranian oil and petrochemicals. The reason is clear: the price of Iranian energy is affordable.
At the same time, they also reduce Pakistan's dependence on Saudi Arabia's oil and energy resources and strengthen Tehran-Islamabad bilateral relations in their own way.
It is worth noting that only 20% of Pakistan's oil needs are met by this country's resources.
The rest of the country's energy needs are imported and the cost spent in this area is approximately $22.2 billion.
In the current situation, Pakistan is facing serious economic and political challenges.
Concretely, in the economic field, this country is affected by the rise in energy prices and cannot cope with the high prices in this area.
Therefore, new prospects for economic cooperation with Iran can bring significant benefits to Pakistan.