KABUL (Pajhwok): The Economic Commission has approved proposals to expand trade with Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and China through Sher Khan Port, instructing relevant institutions to facilitate trade by developing infrastructure, extending the port’s operating hours and establishing a logistics centre.
In a statement, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs said the commission’s regular meeting was held today (Tuesday), chaired by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, during which proposals submitted by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) to expand trade through Sher Khan Port were reviewed.
It said the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Interior (MoI) and other relevant institutions had been tasked with developing the required infrastructure at Sher Khan Port and expanding existing facilities. It added that, in coordination with Tajikistan, the port’s operating hours would be extended to facilitate the movement of more transport vehicles.
The commission also instructed MoF to allocate funds for the construction of a logistics centre at Sher Khan Port. The centre will provide customs, warehousing, loading and unloading services.
The statement said the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) had also been directed to establish the necessary railway infrastructure within Afghanistan to operationalise the ECO railway corridor linking Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Meanwhile, the commission decided that several state-owned companies would hand over their scrap iron to the National Development Corporation (NDC), enabling it to process the material into standard reinforcing steel bars for use in major government projects.
The commission also approved 37 standards and 12 proposed testing methods submitted by the National Standards and Quality Authority, covering agricultural products, foodstuffs, medicines, construction materials, telecommunications, electricity, chemicals, plastics, medical equipment and other sectors.
The statement added that progress reports on a number of follow-up issues were presented during the meeting and the necessary instructions were issued to the relevant institutions. All decisions taken at the meeting have been forwarded to the Office of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate for final approval.
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