Iranian Interior minister visits eastern borders

ZAHEDAN, Iran Feb. 9 (MAN) – Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najar visited Iran’s eastern borders in Sistan-Balouchestan province on Tuesday to lay the groundwork for the start of a number of infrastructure projects.

The interior minister was accompanied by the deputy interior minister for security affairs and the border police commander.

The visit came at a time when efforts to curb illicit drug smuggling in the border areas have intensified, culminating in the seizure of a quantity of illegal drugs on Monday.

Najar called for more efforts to fight the smuggling of illicit drugs.

To halt the transit of drugs and passage to kidnappers and hooligans, Iran has started building a fence along its border with Pakistan.

In talks with reporters at Zahedan airport, the minister said some 106 million dollars have been allocated for the border fence project in the next year’s budget which he hoped to be endorsed by the Majlis.

To cope with the drug trade and unemployment in the province the government had drawn up plans to start some infrastructure projects.

“We are seeking to implement them (projects),” the minister said.