Senior Vice President Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), and chairman SCCI Standing Committee on Railway and Dry Port, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi has asked the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan for immediate removal of hurdles in Afghan Transit Trade (ATT).
Addressing a meeting of Pak-Afghan Liaison Committee on transit trade, he further urged the leaderships of both countries for sitting aside their political differences to ensure the facilitation of the business communities on both sides of the border. Those present on the occasion were included chairman Pak-Afghan Liaison Committee and Director, Directorate Transit Trade Fayyaz Anwar, second secretary Afghan Consulate/Political Officer Mohammad Naeem Sarwaray, second secretary/protocol officer Mohammad Fawad Anwaray, additional director transit trade Amjad-ur-Rehman, additional director Ziaullah Shams, deputy director Adeem Khan, deputy director M Amin, additional collector customs (Torkham) Yusuf Haider and executive officer Trade Development Authority Pakistan (TDAP) Samin Jan.
The meeting reviewed the reservations of the business community of Pakistan and Afghanistan on the new transit trade agreement between the both neighbouring countries and demanded of their governments for immediate redressing of the reservations of business community.
The meeting evolved consensus that all stakeholders including Pak-Afghan Liaison Committee. Directorate, Transit Trade, PAJCCI and Peshawar based Afghan Consulate will dispatch their recommendations for the removing of the reservations of business community over Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement to the concerned agencies of their respective governments. For this purpose, they will also make high-level contacts with the Ministry of Commerce and other concerned organisations.
Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi said that ATT trade shifted to Bandar Abbas and Chahbahar could be attracted to Pakistani ports through facilitating the business communities of both countries. He also called for the addressing of the reservations of business community on the new trade agreement.
He told the meeting that the lack of interest from both side of governments and some political disputes are badly affecting both the Afghan Transit Trade and bilateral trade. He added that due to no review over the agreement for the last 6 years, the business community is facing severe hardships and the treaty has become the victim of sabotage.
Sarhadi called for the convening of a meeting to review the new Afghan transit trade agreement as soon as possible. He also called for inviting the stakeholders of the business from both countries to immediate and effective measures for the resolution of problems through mutual consultations.
The meeting also discussed difficulties faced by business community of both countries and after presenting crucial recommendations for their resolution demanded of the governments of both countries for taking steps with immediate effect.