‘Fears of disruption’ in exports to Central Asia
Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) President Abdul Samad Musakhel demanded of the State Bank of Pakistan to withdraw a circular related to exports through land routes to Central Asian countries, including Afghanistan, saying the central bank didn’t take stakeholders into confidence.
“Under the new order, cash counter table currencies will not be acceptable and this has raised fears that the flow of exports from Balochistan to Central Asian countries will end,” the president said in a statement issued by the QCCI on Saturday.
Musakhel mentioned that freight vehicles of rice and mangoes were stuck at the border after the orders issued by the central bank.
“We demand the SBP of reviewing the notification and issuing orders to withdraw it so that exports from Balochistan to Central Asian states can continue,” he added.
Musakhel termed the central bank’s notification a catastrophic step for import and export business of Balochistan.
He further said people of the province were already facing the issue of unemployment, while on the other hand the SBP’s unilateral decisions would restrict business activities and further create unemployment in Balochistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2021.