Traders and exporters of Pakistan and Afghanistan have urged their respective nations to review policies in a bid to further improve trade and economic relations between the two neighbouring countries.
During a joint meeting of Pakistan and Afghan traders held at the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Tuesday, they urged the government to identify the bottlenecks that were hampering bilateral and transit trade.
According to them, some of the hurdles include complicated regulations and procedures, strict policies and cumbersome goods clearing processes.
Participants of the meeting demanded introduction of a visa-free entry regime for the business community and prior consultation with relevant stakeholders before implementation of the new Afghan Transit Trade Agreement.
They also proposed the launch of a joint bonded carrier system between Pakistan and Afghanistan to address the issues facing transportation of goods. SCCI President Sherbaz Bilour said that customs authorities had recently issued a notification in which duty on more than 51 imported items of Afghan origin had been reduced. “This led to a noticeable increase in Pak-Afghan trade and transit trade.”
He added that the SCCI was making efforts for a reduction in customs duty applicable to the remaining items imported from Afghanistan. He emphasised that Islamabad and Kabul should review their policies so that reservations of the business community on both sides of the border could be addressed.
Afghan Consul General in Peshawar Najeebullah Ahmadzai told meeting participants that Afghanistan was fully committed to deepening bilateral trade and economic relations with Pakistan.
“We have raised issues of Pakistan and Afghan traders and exporters before the authorities concerned in an effective manner and resolved them on a priority basis,” he said. “It is a matter of great satisfaction that Islamabad and Kabul want to improve mutual economic and trade ties, which will help bring economic prosperity, development and everlasting peace in the whole region.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2021.
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