Islamabad, February 17, 2026: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to strengthen collaboration in agriculture and food security following high-level talks held in Islamabad between senior ministers of both countries.
The meeting brought together Iran’s Minister of Agriculture Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, and Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan. Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral engagement in key agricultural sectors and improving implementation of existing agreements.
Officials highlighted the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries and expressed satisfaction over ongoing cooperation in areas including veterinary services, animal health, plant protection and quarantine.
Rana Tanveer Hussain underscored the importance of structured institutional coordination between relevant ministries and research bodies, noting that agriculture plays a central role in ensuring food security, supporting rural livelihoods and maintaining economic stability.
The Iranian agriculture minister emphasized opportunities for closer collaboration in horticulture, livestock development, crop management and modern farming practices. He said coordinated research initiatives and technical exchanges could generate mutual benefits for both countries.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan stressed the need for improved facilitation mechanisms and operational-level alignment to ensure that bilateral agreements translate into practical outcomes for farmers and agribusiness stakeholders.
The meeting also reviewed progress under existing frameworks and discussed accelerating pending institutional processes to maintain momentum in cooperation.
Both sides agreed to promote joint research, capacity-building initiatives and knowledge exchange in areas such as water conservation, high-value crops, livestock improvement and sustainable agriculture, particularly in light of shared climate-related challenges.
At the conclusion of the talks, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to regular engagement and coordinated implementation of agreed measures, expressing confidence that enhanced agricultural cooperation would contribute to stronger economic ties and regional stability.
