Peace in Afghanistan will not only steer economic prosperity within the country but will also boost the progress of neighbouring countries, said President Dr Arif Alvi.
While meeting a delegation of Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday, he stated that border districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, particularly Khyber district, could benefit enormously from trade and commercial opportunities in Afghanistan.
“Serious efforts are being made to facilitate and support the business community,” he said, adding that traders were playing a huge role in the socio-economic development of Pakistan.
He highlighted that the government had initiated a number of development projects in different sectors in the newly merged districts of erstwhile Fata in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. “People of the area will benefit immensely from these projects.”
Lauding government’s efforts for hosting the 17th extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad, he stressed that it would drum up international support for humanitarian aid in the neighbouring country.
The delegation, led by Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Syed Hassan Ali Shah, apprised the president of the hurdles in the way of trade with Afghanistan.
The delegation appreciated the steps taken by the government to provide relief to the business community during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the government has allowed duty drawback and rebate on the export of goods to Afghanistan and Central Asian states via Afghanistan. In this regard, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has amended the customs rules.
The FBR has issued a notification 1603(I)/ 2021 by amending SRO 1434(I)/ 2021 of November 4, 2021.
The notification stated that Pakistani exporters would get duty drawback and rebate on the export of goods to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries through Afghanistan.
When contacted, FBR officials said that the move was aimed at boosting exports of Pakistani products to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.
APP (with additional input from our correspondent)
Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2021.
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