PESHAWAR: Complicated rules and regulations are major impediment to transit and bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to traders belonging to both the neighbouring countries.

During a joint meeting at Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Tuesday, the businessmen belonging to both the countries urged Islamabad and Kabul to review their policies to improve the volume of bilateral trade.

The meeting, presided over by SCCI president Sherbaz Bilour, was largely attended by businessmen from both the countries.

“We discussed various factors and pointed out that slow clearance of goods consignments, strict policies and complicated regulations that create hurdles to the bilateral trade and prepared a charter of demands to be presented to relevant officials of both the countries,” said the participants of the meeting. They urged Islamabad and Kabul to review their policies to improve trade and economic relations between the two neigbouring countries.

The participants demanded introduction of a visa free entry regime for the business community and proper consultation with relevant stakeholders before implementation of the new Afghan Transit Trade Agreement. They suggested launching of a joint bonded carriers system between Pakistan and Afghanistan to address the issues of transport.

Mr Bilour said on the occasion that the customs authorities recently issued a notification regarding reduction in values of more than 51 Afghan-origin imported items and a result a noticeable increase in transit and bilateral trade between the two countries was witnessed. He said that SCCI was in contact with relevant officials to decrease customs values on the rest of the Afghan items.

Afghan Consul General in Peshawar Najeebullah Ahmadzai told the participants of the meeting that Afghanistan was committed to improving bilateral trade and economic relations with Pakistan. He added that the demands of traders were discussed with the authorities concerned to resolve them on priority basis.

Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry Afghanistan chapter president Khan Jan Alkozai asked the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to set aside their political differences and make joint efforts to facilitate traders.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2021