Afghan ambassador meets traders at KPCCI

Said they have been receiving threats from extortionists in Afghanistan

PESHAWAR: Traders in the city urged Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal to take steps to put an end to threatening phone calls they had been receiving from extortionists operating in Afghanistan.

This request was made during Zakhilwal’s visit to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KPCCI)’s office on Friday to discuss the potential for trade between both the countries.



Traders said they have reported hundreds of phone numbers from Afghanistan to the police.

Responding to their complaints, the Afghan ambassador said it was a serious issue and he would discuss it with the governors of Nangarhar and Jalalabad provinces of Afghanistan.

He added the police officials of both countries will be brought into contact to take action against those involved.

“It is important that both countries share information with each other on this issue for a proper solution,” Zakhilwal said.

While discussing the bilateral trade ties between both the countries, traders said they were disappointed that despite a free trade agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, there has been no potential increase in the volume of trade.

“There has been a decrease of 23% in bilateral trade between the countries,” KPCCI President Zulfiqar Ali Khan said, adding the governments have shown little interest in improving trade links.



Moreover, the traders spoke about the issues they face in conducting business with Central Asian countries via Afghanistan and asked for direct trade links. The traders asked Zakhilwal to improve trade from K-P and reduce duties to discourage smuggling.



They also asked Zakhilwal to register drug manufacturing companies in Afghanistan and issue multiple visas to the business community.

The Afghan ambassador assured the traders no extra duties will be imposed on Pakistani traders.

“There is a huge potential to increase trade between the two countries,” the ambassador said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2016.