SCCI, PAJCCI partner to boost Pak-Afghan trade

Sign MoU to strengthen trade, address challenges

PESHAWAR:

The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote bilateral trade and foster cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The agreement, signed during PAJCCI President Junaid E Makda's visit to the SCCI, seeks to build strong ties between industrialists and entrepreneurs of both nations. SCCI President Fazal Muqeem Khan, Senior Vice President Abdul Jalil Jan, and SVP PAJCCI Ziaul Haq Sarhadi were present along with other notable businessmen.

The MoU highlights enhanced collaboration through trade delegation exchanges, participation in fairs, and information sharing. Both chambers pledged to appoint focal points for its implementation. Fazal Muqeem highlighted the adverse impact of the 2% Infrastructure Development Cess (IDC) imposed by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government on trade and transit. He noted that the cess reduced Pak-Afghan trade volume from over $3 billion to under $1 billion, with daily truck clearances at Torkham border dropping from 400-500 to 5-10.