Formal approval of APTTA: Industrial sectors, chambers of commerce term agreement a conspiracy

The industrial sectors as well as different chambers of commerce have outrightly rejected the formal approval of the Afghan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA). The business community described the agreement as a conspiracy against Pakistan as it will have negative impact on the economy.
Talking to Business Recorder, chairman Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Zahid Maqbool said that such an agreement would only benefit Afghanistan and India. The agreement would have negative impact on Pakistan's economy as most of goods imported for Kabul illegally sneak into our markets, denting the local industry. No mechanism has so far been evolved to control smuggling from Afghanistan and the agreement would result in increasing this menace.
Many kinds of prohibited and banned goods from India could also be smuggled into Pakistan en route Afghanistan, which would further have negative impact on the local industry. He further said that most of the items, including black tea, cosmetics and bicycles not extensively used in Afghanistan would be smuggled to Pakistan.
Zahid further said that according to the new trade agreement the Afghan transport companies would be allowed to lift goods from the Wahgha border and Karachi seaport. It will definitely have negative impact on transport sector and also damage the communication infrastructure.
Trucks and goods associations of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) have expressed their dismay over the agreement, saying that allowing Afghan trucks via Chamman to Wahgha border and Karachi port would be disastrous for local transporters, besides leaving hundreds of locals jobless. Office-bearers of KPK and Balochistan trucks and trailers associations talking over the phone to Business Recorder flayed the government over the agreement, arguing that it would create serious economic problems for the local people linked with transport industry.
President Balochistan Goods and Trucks Association Noor Mohammad Shahwani said that about 500 trucks and tankers operate between Torkham-Chamman-Afghan borders, but after the agreement local truckers will have no role in transporting Afghan goods. President Goods Association, Abdul Hakeem Qalandar expressed grave concern over the government's decision allowing Afghan trucks to carry goods through Wahgha to India, saying that the accord would also badly affect the transportation system in the country as Kabul has right-hand drive vehicles.