Director, Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi has revealed that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani expressed concern over non-implementation of the announcements for enhancement of the volume of Pakistani trade with Afghanistan to US $5 billion and clearance of the bilateral trade goods between both countries within two days.
After a meeting of a delegation of PAJCCI with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi said that not taking of positive measures despite identification of hurdles in Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) and bilateral trade has hurt him. The seven-member delegation of PAJCCI headed by president Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Iftikhar Ahmad Wahra, Director PAJCCI, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, Junaid Ismail Makda, A.Q. Khalil, Haji Abdul Qayyum, Said Meraj and Niaz Ahmad during visit to Afghanistan called on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistani ambassador in Kabul, Syed Ibrar Hussain, Commercial Attache Khurshid Marwat and Afghan Finance Minister Omar Zakhelwal. President, PAJCCI, Khan Jan Alkozi were also present on the occasion.
During the meeting the delegation discussed matters relating to bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and difficulties faced by the business community of both countries, particularly relating to Afghan Transit Trade. Sarhadi told that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani expressed concern regarding Nato-ISAF container scandal and said that these containers were loaded with Afghanistan bound goods, which have been arrived into Afghanistan. But, the involving of business community despite the arrival of goods in Afghanistan is interesting.
On this occasion, president, PAJCCI, Khan Jan Alkozi termed Nato-ISAF container scandal as largest hurdle in the promotion of bilateral trade between both neighbouring countries. He demanded of the government of Pakistan for immediate closing of the matter and guaranteeing the implementation of agreements signed during the visit of Afghan President to Pakistan for promotion of bilateral trade.
He said that decisions taken during the visit of Afghan President including clearance of 95% trade goods in one-day and remaining on the second, increasing bilateral trade to US $5 billion and keeping of border posts opened seven days of week should be guaranteed.
Sarhadi said that other issues relating to promotion of bilateral trade also come under discussion during talks with Afghan President and while assuring resolution of problems said that Afghan government is sincere in promotion of bilateral trade with Pakistan and said that the government of Pakistan should guarantee the implementation of agreements in this regard so both countries would achieve economic stability.
He stressed need for the effective role of Pakistan Railways in the facilitation of the business of Afghan Transit Trade and demanded the immediate abolition of SRO 121 to the transportation of goods in railway boogies would be made possible and empty container would be returned to shipping companies.
Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi has demanded of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Khurrram Dastagir, and Chairman FBR Tariq Bajwa for guaranteeing the implementation of trade agreements signed on the occasion the visit of Afghan President and remove hurdles in the way of signing new Afghan Transit Trade Agreement.
Comments
Comments are closed.