ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce on Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood has said trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan would maximize chances of regional economic integration and boost the connectivity among the two countries.
While addressing the opening session of the 8th round of the three-day talks over the Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) Dawood said following the prime minister’s visit to Kabul, the Ministry of Commerce had started engaging all stakeholders on items to be placed in the proposed Pak-Afghan Perennial Trade Agreement (PTA).
The adviser said smooth transit trade for enhancing connectivity with Central Asian Republics (CARs), connecting regional trade with Gwadar Port, and finalizing the APTTA and Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Afghanistan in February 2021 are the main agendas of the trade negotiation between the two neighbouring countries.
Pakistan has allowed Afghanistan to use Gwadar and Bin Qasim ports for their transit trade as a goodwill gesture to enhance the economic ties and hoped that investment-related matters would be resolved in the bilateral dialogue, he added.
Abdul Razak Dawood informed that the two countries would also discuss excess of Indian trade items through mutual borders in three days’ negotiation, as well as the potential setting up of economic zones to enhance bilateral investment and trade opportunities. ”
While addressing the session, Afghanistan’s Minister for Commerce and Industry Nisar Ahmad Faizi Ghoryani said that the government of Afghanistan under the leadership of President Ashraf Ghani was committed to providing Pakistan with all facilities for increasing trade and investment opportunities on both sides of the border.
Through the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Afghanistan wants to export its products to the South Asian market via Pakistan for connecting the regional economy and trade, the Afghan minister said.
On this occasion, Federal Secretary for Commerce Muhammad Saleh Ahmad Faruqi and Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal highlighted issues related to trade and mutual cooperation between both sides and gave proposals for the resolution of the issues.
Earlier, on a social media website Twitter, Razak Dawood had said, “We are looking at engineering, pharmaceutical, cement, building materials, fruit and vegetables for enhancing the trade liberalization between both of the countries”. The adviser further said, “I request all the stakeholders to be prepared for discussions through video link.”
Following PM's visit to Kabul, the MOC will begin engagement with all the stakeholders on the items to be placed in the proposed Pakistan-Afghanistan PTA, starting next week. We are looking at Engineering, Pharma, Cement, Building materials, Fruit & vegetables, etc. 1/2
— Abdul Razak Dawood (@razak_dawood) November 20, 2020
