KARACHI: Pakistan and Afghanistan have joined hands to establish Central Asia as free trade zone by resolving the issues faced by the two countries. Afghanistan wants to include India in Transit Trade Agreement.
Sources told Customs Today that Directorate General of Afghan Transit Trade, Pakistan and Afghanistan, has stepped up efforts to include Tajikistan in a trilateral transit trade agreement. Pakistan and Afghanistan are also expected to discuss the revised draft of the transit trade agreement on March 15.
Sources said that the provisions of the present agreement would be revised and amended appropriately to facilitate transit trade and to establish central Asia as free trade zone. Amendment would help Pakistan export goods to Central Asian States without payment of duty and taxes via Afghanistan.
Both Pakistan and Afghanistan government have agreed on a facilitation package to boost bilateral trade up to $5 billion in the next few years bonding the relations in different sectors. The Afghan trucks will be allowed to carry Pakistani exports to Afghanistan on their return journey. Similarly, Pakistani trucks will be allowed to carry Tajik and Central Asian export cargo while returning to Pakistan.
