Afghan transit trade to open new avenues: Asad Qaiser

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has said smooth Pakistan-Afghan bilateral trade will be helpful in exploring new destinations for Pakistani products.

“Pakistan has a meager trade volume of $119 million with the Central Asian Republics (CARs). This trade volume can be enhanced exponentially by using the transit trade route via Afghanistan,” Qaiser said on Friday while chairing the 6th meeting of the Executive Committee of Pakistan-Afghanistan Friendship Group.

“The development and prosperity of the country is dependent upon enhancing trade and commerce relations with all our neighbors,” the speaker added.

Qaider said smooth and well-coordinated border management is imperative for facilitating the traders at all borders, especially borders crossing with Afghanistan like Torkham, Chaman and Angoor Adda.

The speaker formed two task forces on visa facilitation and border management and commerce under Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Shehzad Arbab.

He laid stress on inclusion of all stakeholders in the consultation for formulating the new Pakistan Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement which would be renewed in January 2021.

Qaiser also directed the Ministry of Commerce to invite representatives of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan chambers of commerce and trade for incorporating their input in the forthcoming Afghan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement.

He also directed the Ministry of Interior to coordinate with the Pakistan Customs to formulate a proper plan for border management based on modern and efficient techniques.

He instructed the representatives of the Ministry of Interior to physically visit the Torkham Border to assess the on ground situation and resolve issues of traders.

The speaker emphasized the need to facilitate Afghan nationals in opening bank accounts and utilizing line of credit facility in accordance with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) policy guidelines.

He recommended that the SBP governor should hold a meeting with heads of commercial banks to remove hiccups and penalize those not facilitating foreign businessmen including Afghan traders.

SAPM Shehzad Arbab said facilitating traders would enhance the overall trade volume with all neighboring countries. Special Envoy to Afghanistan Sadiq Khan said the Pakistan Embassy in Afghanistan has taken a lot of measures for smooth issuance of visas to Afghan nationals.

The committee was apprised that Afghan nationals can get a driving license from the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) after completing due procedures.

The committee recommended that the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the provincial governments should widely publicize the driving license facilities in place for the Afghan nationals residing or visiting Pakistan so that they can benefit from this facility.

MNA Shandana Gulzar Khan remarked that border management review is essential in view of the socio-economic changes especially in the context of Covid-19.