President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Muhammad Ishaq Butt has underscored the need of expediting the work on Islamabad to Istanbul international freight train service for its completion within stipulated period.
In a press statement issued here on Wednesday afternoon he appreciated the project and said that it will help in enhancing 50 percent of trade of Pakistan with Turkey, Iran and other adjoining countries besides it will also supportive in promotion of tourism in the region.
The SCCI President was of the opinion that government should concentrate on economic benefits and protect the traders under Pak-Afghan transit trade. Undoubtedly, the developing of cordial relations with neighbouring countries are vital for economic prosperity and welfare of the masses he said. Ishaq Butt further said that under the agreement effective steps were direly needed for stopping entry of smuggled and without custom duty goods in the country.
The SCCI President revealed 3700 ton of steel items were smuggled during past three months only in Gujranwala, as a result of which the government faced huge financial losses. He called upon the government to take immediate concrete steps for weeding out the menace of smuggling for protecting national economy from negative impact under Pak-Afghan transit trade.-PR