SCCI calls for removal of hurdles to Af-Pak trade

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Kabul and Islamabad have been urged to evolve a joint mechanism to remove impediments to bilateral and transit trade.

The call came at a meeting of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI)’s Standing Committee on Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs) for Trade Promotion.

The director of the Area Study Centre, University of Peshawar, chaired the meeting.

Chaired by the Area Study Centre director, the meeting called for rationalising tariffs and levies as well as simplifying procedures and policies to boost trade between the neighbours.

The participants made recommendations to the government for the promotion of Pak-Afghan trade and enhancement of exports to regional countries.

They also demanded members of the business community on both sides should be taken into confidence before signing of the new Afghan Transit Trade Agreement.

The meeting identified hurdles to trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and proposed recommendations to address them.

It suggested a joint roadmap or a combined policy should be adopted to resolve issues of traders from the two countries.

The meeting was informed traders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were mostly doing business with Afghanistan, which was faced with a host of problems.

Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, vice-president of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber, stressed traders should be consulted on finalising and signing of the new ATTA.

He also called for the restoration of the cargo service through Pakistan Railways along with the provision of the necessary facilities to traders.

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