ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Tuesday stressed the need for strengthening cultural cooperation with Iran. While talking to the Iranian Ambassador, Mehdi Honardoost who called on him, the minister reiterated that cultural exchanges were not only vital for understanding each other’s values and traditions but also instrumental to promoting people-to-people contact. The minister said that they were aware of the potential of Iranian film and cinema industry and would like Iranian artist and actors to visit Pakistan so that the artists could learn from each other’s expertise in the arena of film and entertainment. He also asked Iranian ambassador to send Iranian Ulemas to address an upcoming religious conference on November 20 at Convention Centre. Mehdi Honardoost while appreciating the minister’s interest in reinforcing cultural relations said that Iran had a vibrant film industry and emphasized the need for joint productions in the field of drama. The Iranian ambassador also underscored the need to enhance formal collaboration between media entities of both the countries and proposed the meeting of IRIB and IRNA heads with their counter parts as well as Minister for information in Pakistan. Chaudhary Fawad Hussain directed the concerned authorities to send formal invitation to the heads of both the state-run Iranian Media organizations to visit Pakistan. Published in Daily Times, November 14th 2018.