PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade has appreciated the Afghanistan government decision regarding the withdrawal of $100 charges on manufacturing/exporting products of Pakistan, en-route to Central Asian Republic (CAR) countries via Afghanistan and removal of 110 percent cash guarantee.
Vice Chairman of KPBOIT, Senator Mohsin Aziz termed the decision as a landmark achievement of boadr while chairing a meeting at office of the board here on Monday, said a press release issued here.
Addressing the meeting, Aziz said said the board has prepared recommendations for removal of hurdles, which were continued to impede the bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Due to concerted efforts of the board, he said the Afghanistan Customs authorities had formally decided to withdraw $100 per metric ton as charges on locally exporting goods of the Pakistan to CAR countries, through Afghanistan, besides removal of 110 per cent cash guarantee with immediate effect. He furthered said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was also informed through a communique in this regard.
He maintained there were lot of potential to grow mutual trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which is currently stood at $ 2.5billion.
He, however, said the decision of Afghanistan government will give further boost to bilateral trade and economic relations between two neighbouring countries.
KPBOIT was formed a Post Afghanistan Visit Review Committee, aimed at to make deliberations and prepare recommendations for resolution of issues and impediments to Pakistan and Afghanistan trade, and presented a comprehensive consultative report to authorities concerned.
The board vice chairman further stated that Pakistani exporters had been faced with difficulties due to imposition of charges on locally manufacturing goods along with 110 per cent guarantee, imposed by Afghan Customs authorities.
He reminded that the issue was raised with Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani, and other high officials of department concerned, during meeting with high level delegation, led by KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak.
In response to that, he said Afghan Customs authorities took decision, which is commendable step towards bolstering bilateral trade relations, besides it will provide opportunity to restore confidence of importers and exporters of the both neighbouring countries.
“The balance of trade is best interest of the country, while a total volume of import in Afghanistan is nearly $ 187million. If the country would bring down ratio of duty on import at zero level, which could further improve bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Mr Aziz opined.
It was pertinent to mention here that the Afghanistan Embassy in Pakistan had informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the withdrawal of condition of 100 USD per metric ton as charges on manufacturing/ exporting products of Pakistan, passing through to Afghanistan to CAR countries, along with 110 per cent cash guarantee.
