Need for sustained Af-Pak cooperation stressed

PESHAWAAR (Pajhwok): Two top commerce bodies have called for the promotion of strong cooperation between Afghanistan.

The Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued the call on Friday.

Leaders of the trade forums joped sustained bilateral cooperation would not only cement brotherly bonds between the two countries but would also help ensure peace in the region.

FPCCI President Daroo Khan Achakzai and SAARC CCI Senior Vice-President Iftikhar Ali Malik said this at an interaction with an Afghan delegation, led by President Ashraf Ghani, at the Governor’s House in Lahore.

Achakzai requested leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan to remove non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and other obstacles to trade. He invited the delegates to explore new business avenues in various sectors of Pakistan’s economy.

He said that Pakistan’s private sector always attached great importance to trade with Afghanistan and remained willing to promote trade relations through lawful channels.

“If proposed energy connectivity projects, such as the CASA-1000 transmission line and the TAPI gas pipeline, are executed, they will bring economic benefits to both countries,” he added

Iftikhar Malik said Afghanistan and Pakistan had a long tradition of interactions, as they were good trading partners.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, as part of the wider Belt and Road Initiative, would be extended to Central Asia via Afghanistan, he said.

“If we look at the CPEC, it has four main components: Transit and trade, infrastructure, energy cooperation and economic integration. Afghanistan can be helpful from all these components.”

To improve trade ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Malik said tariff rates should be reduced on essential commodities, non-tariff barriers lowered and trade facilitation extended.

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