ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani and Afghan trade authorities have held detailed deliberations on removal of technical irritants and hurdles in the promotion of bilateral trade.
On the last day of two-day meeting of the Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Coordination Authority (APTTCA), the participants agreed on numerous points which would be announced on Today (Saturday) at the conclusion of Trilateral Transit Trade Agreement (TTTA).
A source in the Commerce Ministry told Customs Today that on the last day of APTTCA, Additional Secretary Rubina Athar led the Pakistani delegation in the deliberations while representatives from other ministries and departments were also present.
The source said that focus of the discussions was on the removal of issues, including customs tariff, establishment and provision of required infrastructure at land ports, clearance of transit trade carrying containers, attitude of law enforcement agencies towards trucks and containers staff, security of Pakistani transit goods and trucks and containers in Afghanistan while heading towards Central Asian Republics (CARs), visa facilitations, movement of suspected people, management at borders, as well as transportation of transit trade via railways along with needed infrastructure at Pakistani ports.
Besides, technicalities related to promotion of bilateral trade, especially transit trade, the source said that both sides also reiterated the resolve to follow the political will expressed by Pakistani and Afghan political leadership to enhance bilateral trade and facilitate each other on transit trade.
The source added that the meeting also discussed possibilities of inking a preferential trade agreement along with possible extension to other CARs.
“Both sides also agreed to facilitate each others’ trade and commerce sectors and developed a consensus to attach high priorities to economic relations among brotherly country.” the source said.
He also said, “The meeting enabled both sides to facilitate the businessmen for the promotion of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
The source said that Afghan side also hoped that facilitation to each others’ commerce and trade sectors would help to further promote trade relations, adding that provision and exchange of list of traders would be helpful in checking the smuggling of Pakistani goods to Central Asian states.
