Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday underlined the need for improved bilateral trade and economic co-operation, saying that extremism and terrorism were threat to regional prosperity. Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, addressing the two-day Regional Economic Co-operation Conference (RECC) on Afghanistan here, said that growing suicide attacks were jeopardising peace and stability of both countries.
Gilani said that Pakistan has been actively contributing to the development of Afghanistan and, despite domestic economic problems, it would continue with the ongoing three-year financial package of $300 million for Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan was committed to further strengthen its ties with Afghanistan as his advisor on finance Shaukat Tarin expressed hope that Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA) would be finalised this year.
"We will transform our region into one, where terrorism and extremism are but a distant memory, and where future generations can enjoy the fruits of freedom, development and prosperity in an environment of security, stability and abundant opportunities", the PM said.
He underlined the need of according top priority to Afghan development, saying that regional countries, major powers and international organisations must act in a concerted way to advance the shared goals. He said that Pakistan was prepared to join in efforts with Afghanistan in promoting regional connectivity, strengthening energy co-operation, expanding opportunities for Afghan citizens and enhancing the capacity of Afghan national institutions.
The Prime Minister said currently Pakistan was engaged in constructing 200-bed Jinnah General Hospital and Thalassemia Centre in Kabul, another hospital in Logar and a Kidney Centre in Jalalabad. He also announced scholarship for Afghan students. Gilani said that Pakistan would set up a regional Customs Academy in Kabul, extend railroad to Afghanistan, and accelerate the projects on infrastructure and energy connectivity. "These projects are the first incremental steps towards the realisation of a futuristic vision for the region," he added.
The Prime Minister said that struggle against terrorism was a struggle for a profound vision for a better tomorrow. "It is a struggle for hearts and minds, one in which dialogue and development must be the most potent tool," he said. He said as EU and Asean enjoy intra-regional trade levels of 67 and 23 percent respectively, ECO and Saarc regions register barely above five percent, and stressed the need to change this situation significantly.
"We need to expand intra-regional trade substantially among other means by expeditious implementation of the Economic Co-ordination Organisation Trade Agreement and other regional trade arrangements," he said. Gilani said there was need to re-negotiate Transit Trade Agreement and strengthen the Trans-Afghan road and rail links. He also underlined the need to put in place region-wide frameworks on energy and food security, adding that border areas had to be developed through creation of trans-border economic zones.
The venue of inaugural session was shifted from Jinnah Convention Centre to Prime Minister's Secretariat in the wake of security threats to the Afghan delegation. Afghan President said that terrorist attacks on Nato supply and other routes were having negative impact on the trade and economic activity not only in Pakistan and Afghanistan but also in the whole region.
He said that a politically stable Afghanistan was vital for the development of the region. The third RECC on Afghanistan was held under the theme to implement practical steps for bringing stability, peace and prosperity to the country and fulfil pledges made in previous conferences.
In later session, the heads of missions presented the country report and progress made during the previous two conferences. Mission heads from across the world including China, Japan, USA, Canada and Europe stressed the need for developing transit trade from Afghanistan and developing small scale projects in the country to facilitate local unskilled workforce.
The session was informed that India has invested heavily in the country, with co-operation amounting to $1.2 billion in the form of loans and grants, which have been invested mainly in the road and energy infrastructure projects. Secretary, Economic Affairs Division, Farrukh Qayyum said that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan was around $1.4 billion but it was expected to double in five years.