Heading a high-ranking delegation, Pezeshkian was welcomed by former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif and the Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, upon his arrival on Saturday.
A number of senior Pakistani officials and Iran’s Consul General in Lahore, Mehran Movahedfar, were also present in the ceremony.
The Iranian president held talks with Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Sharif before visiting the tomb of the renowned poet Muhammad Iqbal.
At the meeting, Pezeshkian expressed his appreciation for the support shown by the government and people of Pakistan during the recent 12-day Israeli war of aggression against Iran.
“If Muslims around the world unite, the Zionist regime will no longer be able to target independent nations one by one,” the president said.
He also called for greater cooperation in science, industry, and agriculture between regional countries. “We must pool our strengths to form a united bloc and meet the needs of the Islamic Ummah ourselves,” he said.
'Pakistan stands with Iran with a stronger resolve'
For his part, Nawaz Sharif praised Iran’s resilience in the face of Israeli aggression. “We stand with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and our resolve will be stronger than ever moving forward.”
He said that through their resistance, the Iranian people not only protected their homeland but also reshaped Iran’s global image.
“This was not merely a confrontation with one regime,” he said, “but a courageous stand against global powers.”
Following his significant cultural visit, he will set off for the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
During his stay in Islamabad, Pezeshkian plans to meet with top Pakistani officials and sign several documents for the expansion of bilateral cooperation.
The Iranian president’s trip is taking place at the invitation of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
This visit marks the fifth official meeting between the two countries’ officials in the past year. The Iranian president and Pakistani prime minister have been in constant contact over the past months, particularly following the escalation of recent military tensions in the region, highlighting both sides’ resolve to improve bilateral cooperation.
Speaking before his departure, Pezeshkian said Tehran and Islamabad have always maintained “good, sincere, and deep relations” and plan to increase bilateral trade volume to $10 billion annually.
“Through Pakistan, we can connect to the Silk Road between China and Pakistan, and this road can connect to Europe through Iran,” he said.
Pezeshkian’s trip signals Tehran’s determination to reinforce economic diplomacy as a cornerstone of its foreign policy, seeking to translate longstanding cultural and historical ties with Pakistan into tangible economic benefits.
Press TV