Tariff rationalisation and fiscal reforms were necessary to counter parallel trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The issue was raised at the 9th session of the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) held in Kabul from February 22-24 by Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI).
According to details available, here on Thursday during the two-day JEC session, detailed meetings were held between the experts of the two sides on a number of issues, especially focusing on Trade, Commerce and Industry, co-operation in Communication and Connectivity, Energy, Agriculture and Livestock and Education. In the sub-committee meeting of Trade and Commerce, PAJCCI's Co-President Muhammad Zubair Motiwala emphasised on the importance of establishing export houses across the border to facilitate bilateral trade and reiterated the requirement of providing one-year multiple visa to Pakistani traders and businessmen on reciprocal basis.
President PAJCCI welcomed extension of APTTA to Tajikistan but reinforced that current implementation issues pertaining to APTTA must be rectified before the said augmentation. He further highlighted that such initiative of revisiting APTTA is encouraging but PAJCCI may be taken into confidence mainly with respect to the irritant articles before the inclusion of the new partner.
President, PAJCCI, Khan Jan Alkozai and Motiwala also provided stakeholders' feedback with reference to several implementation issues under Afghan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) which is hampering not only the transit trade but also effecting the bilateral relations.
It was agreed in the sub-committee meeting that all the issues highlighted by Afghan side on implementation of APTTA, bilateral trade facilitation and otherwise would be considered in relevant experts meeting to be scheduled over the next two months to address Afghan concerns. It was also stressed by PAJCCI that in future meetings, both chapters of PAJCCI should be treated as part of one entity rather than as counterparts and must represent their concerns from the same forum mutually. PAJCCI was represented by President Khan Jan Alkozai, Co-President M Zubair Motiwala, Vice Presidents M Yonass Mohmand and Engr Daroo Khan, Secretary General Faiza Nasir and Ahmadullah Afghan.
The sub-committee meeting was co-chaired by Mozammil Shinwari, Deputy Minister Commerce and Industries Afghanistan and Ms Anjum Assad Amin, Joint Secretary Ministry of Commerce Pakistan. Both sides acknowledged the role played by the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) in enhancement of bilateral and transit trade.
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