Af-Pak PTA to be finalised next month

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Kabul and Islamabad will finalise a preferential trade agreement(PTA) by the end of January 2021.

The Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) would also be inked in coming months, visiting Afghan Minister for Commerce and Industry Nisar Ahmad Ghoryani said.

He voiced the optimism while addressing the opening session of the 8th round of APTTA;s review with Pakistan’a Advisor on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood in Islamabad on Monday.

Ghoryani assured participants that investment-related issues would be resolved through talks. During the three-day dialogue, access of Indian trade items through mutual borders will also be discussed.

The Afghan government remained committed to providing all facilities to Pakistan for enhanced trade and investment opportunities in both countries, he added.

Via the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ghoryani said, Afghanistan wanted to export its products to the South Asian market via Pakistan for connecting regional economies and trade.

Afghanistan was ready to help connect regional countries with Central Asian states, said the visiting minister, who believed Kabul and Islamabad could play a key role because of their location.

For his part, Razak Dawood hoped increased trade between the neighbours would boost chances of regional economic integration and connectivity.

In February 2021 were the main agenda of negotiations between the two countries.

Main items on the agenda of trade talks, scheduled for February, included smooth transit trade for greater connectivity with Central Asian, linking regional trade with the Gwadar Port and finalisation of APTTA and PTA with Afghanistan, he informed.

“We have already allowed Afghanistan to use Gwadar for its transit trade — a demand from Central Asian states to connect them with the port in the near future,” the adviser said.

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