PESHAWAR, Dec 15: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has hired the services of a private firm for conducting studies to identify trade opportunities with Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics and establishment of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in the tribal areas.

An agreement for this purpose was signed between the management of SCCI and a private firm M/s Deloitte here on Saturday.

Ghulam Sarwar Khan Mohmand, chairman, Research and Development Cell of the SCCI, signed the agreement.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sarwar Khan said that four studies aimed at exploring opportunities for Pakistani items to be exported to Afghanistan and CARs, pinpointing tariff and non-tariff barriers and issues in transport and logistics will be conducted under the accord.

Also one of the studies will focus on the proposed ROZs, to be established in tribal areas in collaboration with the US.

These studies will be compiled in six weeks and its report will be sent to the federal government, he said and added the reports would help the local business community and provincial economy.