Govt to facilitate traders to enhance business at Torkham border: Zahid

Ahmad Nabi

LANDI KOTAL: Because of anti-trading policies, adopted by the Pakistani government pertaining business with Afghanistan, the Afghan traders inclined to other alternatives in form of Iran, India and China.

Some years back, Afghanistan was remained, third largest countries that Pakistan exported but that remained one- third due to political problems, policy and operational issues.

These views were expressed by the President Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (CC&IKP) Zahidullah Shinwari while talking in press briefing to media persons on his visit to Torkham custom office here on Wednesday.

Flanked by his cabinet members including  Senior-vice President Muhammad Naeem, vice-President Malik Niazm, ex-senior vice President Muhammad Shafiq and Director Pak-Afghan Chamber of Commerce Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi and Mr Zahidullah Shinwari said that  Pakistan trade policy and FBR had some discriminatory clauses regarding trading with Afghanistan that suffered business between the two neighboring countries.

“The anti-business schemes of the government not only suffer businessmen but also has inflicted loss at national exchequer as the trading volume has decreased to $500 million from $ 2.5 billion via Torkham with Afghanistan and if the government is not revised its policies beside of numberless reminders from the business country, time is near that trade with Afghanistan will end”, Mr Shinwari argued.

He maintained that as much as departments would be engaged in trading activities, the more business acts would be affected therefore he suggested applying simple and one window clearing process at Torkham border, introduced by custom department in other parts of the country to boost trade.

Regarding unavailability of basic facilities in Torkham, he said government strived hard to solve issues of electricity, net etc. necessary for online custom clearance, he added.

Earlier, Additional Collector, Torkham custom center, Ziaullah Shams appraised the visiting guests of the facilities being provided to the trading communities for clearing process.

Representatives of Torkham clearing associations also called on the KP Chamber officials and informed them of their problems being faced by them.