Pak-Afghan JEC: Dar stresses on enhancing trade with Afghanistan

Says Pakistan gives great value to its relations with the brotherly neighbour.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday called for enhancing bilateral trade with Afghanistan as he called the country ‘one of Pakistan’s most important neighbours’.

Dar was co-chairing with Afghanistan’s Minister for Finance Dr Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal the Inaugural session of the 9th Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC), held in Kabul.

Dar said Pakistan attached utmost significance to its relations with Afghanistan and had been playing an active role in its social and economic development, said a press stamen issued by Press Information Department.

He also underscored the need for extending the trilateral transit trade agreement to Tajikistan for the economic betterment of the people of the region, early completion of ongoing projects funded by Pakistan, visa facilitation for Pakistani businessmen and labour, and urgent finalisation of Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The finance minister also enumerated a number of developmental projects completed in different areas of Afghanistan by the Pakistani government.

“In order to encourage and improve bilateral trade and road connectivity, the government of Pakistan has committed to construct Peshawar-Jalalabad Motorway as well as Peshawar-Jalalabad Railway link which would tremendously benefit the traders of Pakistan, Afghanistan as well as the Central Asian States”, the minister added.

He said that these steps were a manifestation of importance being attached by Pakistan towards its brotherly neighbour.

“Besides, the prime minister of Pakistan has increased the development fund from US$385 million to US$ 500 million as a gesture of goodwill to Afghanistan so as to complete the ongoing development projects in Afghanistan,” Dar added.

Speaking at the occasion, the Afghan Finance Minister Zakhailwal underscored the need for enhanced trade and economic relations for the mutual benefits of the two countries. He also appreciated Pakistan’s role and efforts in the reconstruction and rebuilding of Afghanistan, particularly the development of social infrastructure.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2014.