Pak-Afghan forum pitches liberal visa regime

NA speaker chairs first inaugural meeting of Pakistan-Afghanistan Parliamentary Friendship Group

ISLAMABAD:

The inaugural meeting of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG) Executive Committee on Wednesday pitched boosting trade between the two countries and liberalising visa regime for the Afghans.

The meeting held at the Parliament House and chaired by National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser discussed issues concerning the Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relationship.

The gathering primarily focused on enhancing trade and commerce and liberalising visa regimes for the Afghans.

It was observed with concern that the bilateral trade had drastically dropped under $1 billion from its one-time peak of $5 billion.

Both the sides discussed ways and means to effectively address the factors for the decline in trade and resolved to overcome the issue.

The NA speaker reiterated that efforts should be made to rationalise the visa regime keeping in view the historic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan without compromising the important security considerations.

He established eight task forces to deal with matters related to bilateral and transit trade, visa and refugee issues among others.

The task forces were given 15 days to submit their reports on resolution of these issues.

It was decided that the executive committee would meet frequently to discuss and ensure effective follow up of the guidelines issued in this regard.

Pakistan-Afghan Parliamentary Friendship Group was first established in the National Assembly of Pakistan on March 24, 2005.

Since then, the group remained active in terms of parliamentary interaction, cooperation on parliamentary businesses and maintenance of parliamentary oversight of the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The meeting was inter alia attended by defence and maritime affairs ministers, advisers and special assistants to the prime minister on interior and establishment, parliamentarians, Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan and relevant federal secretaries.