Pakistani traders visiting Afghanistan: PAJCCI voices concern over non-issuance of visa

Director, Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ziaul Haq Sarhadi has expressed concern over non-issuance of multiple-visas to business community of Pakistan for Afghanistan. Talking to a group of reporters here on Monday, he said that the Pakistan authorities had issued multiple visas for business community of Afghanistan for a period of six-month, but the Afghan authorities were showing reluctance to issue same facility to the Pakistan traders and business community.
He said that it was great impediment to boosting up mutual trade and business activities between two neighbouring countries. Sarhadi, who is also Chairman Standing Committee of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Railways, said that the issue of multiple-visas for Pakistan traders and business was raised several times during the board meeting of Pak-Afghan joint Chamber, despite that no serious efforts was being made to address the concerns of business community regarding the non-issuance of multiple visas.
The PAJCCI director informed Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai about the issue during his last visit to Pakistan, but the decision was yet to be implemented. Sarhadi accused the Afghan authorities of using delaying tactics in issuance of multiple visas to the business community of Pakistan, which is creating great obstacles to devising a comprehensive joint mechanism and bolstering mutual trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
PAJCCI Director demanded of the Afghan Consul General in Peshawar and Pakistan Ambassador in Afghanistan to take steps for provision of multiple visas for business community of Pakistan, which could be more helpful to further boost up of the current Pak-Afghan bilateral trade volume.