Kabul, Islamabad urged to facilitate business community

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has urged the Islamabad and Kabul to take joint measures to facilitate business community on both side of the border to further strengthen bilateral and transit trade relations between the two neigbouring countries.

This was stated by SCCI Senior Vice President, ShahidHussain during a meeting with Afghan Consul General in Peshawar, Najeebullah Ahmadzai here on Thursday. Abdul Jalil Jan, the chamber vice president, Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, former senior vice president of SCCI and Pak-Afghan Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Imtiaz Ali, Chairman SCCI Standing Committee on Land Route and representative of Afghan business community, Abdullah were present in the meeting.

Shahid Hussain stressed the need for removal of hurdles to trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He called upon the Islamabad and Kabul to facilitate the business community and take joint measures to an amicable resolution of issues which is hampering the mutual trade between them.

SCCI SVP observed the mutual Pak-Afghan trade volume is very low, which can be further enhanced by taking joint measures by both Pakistan and Afghanistan governments. He demanded the timely issuance of visas to the business community.

He said the Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement of 2010 should be reviewed and remove the concerns of business community on both side of the border.

He urged the both governments to frame policies and agreements by taking business community into confidence to make them durable and sustainable as well as viable.

Shahid Hussain said the Peshawar and Kabul is part and parcel for each other, so import and export interests would be protected at every level. He said government of Pakistan has taken serious steps, due to which trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan is improving with the passage of time.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Afghan Consul General, Mr Najeebullah Ahmadzai welcomed the SCCI delegation led by its SVP Mr Shahid Hussain. The Afghan diplomat fully agreed with concerns which are major obstacle in way of bilateral and transit trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and assured them that concreate steps would be taken to enhance the bilateral trade volume between the two neighbouring countries.

Najeebulalh Ahmadzai said the trade ties would be separated from politics to further give boost bilateral and transit trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He assured the SCCI delegation for timely issuance of visas to business community.