Business

Traders for deepening Pak-Afghan ties

Seek formation of committee at border to facilitate real-time resolution of issues

APP October 17, 2021

Trucks loaded with supplies wait to cross into Afghanistan at the Friendship Gate crossing point, in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border town of Chaman. PHOTO: REUTERS

PESHAWAR:

Under the new administration in Afghanistan, Pakistan has an advantage to step forward and resolve the problems impeding the bilateral trade, said Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) Co-Chairman Khan Jan Alokozai.

Addressing a meeting on Saturday, he stressed that Pakistan should study the trade policies of Uzbekistan and Iran and implement the same with Afghanistan to deepen the bilateral trade.

“Similar to these two countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan should form a 20-member committee and post it at the border to facilitate real-time resolution of the issues,” he suggested. “The committee should include PAJCCI directors, customs members, border officials, commercial consuls and other relevant people.”

He was of the view that a unique card should be issued to the members of this committee so they could navigate at the border and resolve the issues.

He highlighted that the congestion at Torkham border could be controlled by dividing the load across several borders, including Ghulam Khan, Angoor Ada and Kharlachi.

He emphasised the need for shifting empty containers from Torkham to other border crossings.

On the occasion, PAJCCI Vice President Ziaul Haq requested the government to regulate the National Logistics Cell (NLC) because increase in prices of logistics was affecting the cost of doing business.

He mentioned that NLC had increased charges without prior notification and its scanners were ineffective and resulting in congestion.

He also demanded provision of ‘One Custom facility’ at the border stations, where Web Based One Customs (WeBoc) was not performing well due to lack of internet facility.

The vice president also criticised the unavailability of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) service at Ghulam Khan border and cited that it was causing inconvenience to the businessmen.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2021.

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