KARACHI: Formation of Customs Union between Pakistan and Afghanistan is vital so that all complications in APTTA can be avoided and the trade becomes smooth. NTBS and other blunders have to be removed in order to get a fast and clear path for development of trade and relations between both countries, said FPCCI President Zakaria Usman.
The meeting was also attend by Shaukat Ahmed, Sr. Vice President, Mazhar Ali Nasir, Ismail Suttar, Khurram Sayeed, Vice Presidents of FPCCI and Haji Jamal and other prominent businessmen.
Zakaria Usman further said that if Custom Union is formed between both the countries, this will facilitate the smooth and frictionless transportation of commodities across the borders and the subsidiary issues related with the collection mechanism, tax and tariff will be automatically removed. He stressed on exploration of new joint business avenues in various sectors and frequent exchange of trade delegations both sides so that people to people contact can be established and business to business meetings can be arranged.
He further said that transit trade from Pakistan to Central Asia is allowed through Chaman Border but practically it is not allowed which is a great obstacle in promotion of bilateral trade. He emphasized on establishment of Pak – Afghan Trade Vigilance Committee under the aegis of national chambers of both the countries to look into the matters of bilateral trade.
The Afghan Commercial Attache said that Pakistan and Afghanistan are brotherly countries and various trade barriers on both side causing damages to the volume of trade. He invited the President FPCCI to visit Afghanistan along with a trade delegation. He also suggested a meeting with the Hon’able President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani with FPCCI’s trade delegation to discuss various bilateral economic and trade related issues. He gave assurance that all issues will be properly addressed and resolved.
