Prime Minister's Advisor on Commerce, Textile, Industries and Prod-uction and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood has reportedly termed Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) as anti-domestic industry, saying it is damaging Pakistan's domestic industry. He made these remarks at a meeting convened on Monday to discuss and prepare a strategy for trade talks with the Afghan delegation headed by President Ashraf Ghani which is scheduled to visit Pakistan on June 27 and 28.
Afghanistan has proposed renegotiating APTTA but the Commerce Division maintains that the agreement would hurt Pakistan's domestic industry. Former Commerce Minister, Engineer Khurram Dastgir had sent the draft revised APTTA to Afghanistan a couple of years ago with the Afghan response still awaited. The sources said Dawood also shared Commerce Ministry's viewpoint with Prime Minister who is also Minister-in-Charge Commerce on Monday to finalise talking points with the visiting delegation.
One of the participants argued that whatever the position the Government takes on Afghanistan, it can not stop transit trade despite using all instruments. "Pakistan cannot impose harsh conditions on transit trade than what already exist," said one of the participants.
Pakistan has imposed five conditions on transit goods coming from Afghanistan including installation of trackers, scanners and electric data exchange but these conditions are not applicable on goods like auto sector, tea and cigarettes coming from Iran.
The sources said Commerce Advisor has proposed quantitative restrictions on Afghanistan's goods and tariff rationalization. Pakistan will also propose that Afghani importers should deposit their due duties and taxes in Pakistan and be reimbursed after the consignment crosses Pakistan.
According to sources, Pakistan will also propose that Afghanistan's tariffs should not be higher than whatever tariff is being charged in Pakistan. Pakistan's domestic industry has already briefed the government on the negative impact of APTTA.
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