KHYBER: The newly-elected cabinet of Torkham Custom Clearing Agents Association (TCCAA) have voiced concern about the declining trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and urged authorities to take corrective measures.

Addressing a news conference at Landi Kotal Press Club, TCCAA president Mujeebullah Shinwari and general secretary Haji Wahid said Pak-Afghan trade had rapidly declined in recent years and traders and businessmen of both countries faced a lack of trust due to the imposition of additional taxes and custom duties, lack of political harmony between the two neighbouring countries and lack of facilities during the customs clearance.

Mr Shinwari said that the Pak-Afghan trade visa Torkham had dropped from to 15 per cent, causing huge losses to the exchequer, business community and transporters.

He insisted that Pakistani products had largely controlled the Afghan market until 2015 but currently, they’re replaced by goods from Iran and Central Asia, while Indian products, too, were found there.

“We are fast losing the Afghan market due to our flawed trade policies coupled with political tensions between the two countries with the Afghan traders and businessmen losing interest in our products”, he said.

The TCCAA president said Afghanistan was the most suitable and lucrative market for Pakistani products in the region.

“We can regain our trading influence through some corrective measures in our trading policies and by offering modern facilities at the custom offices for speedy goods clearance,” he said.

Mr Shinwari called for a transparent and speedy process of customs clearance along with easement in visa policy for traders of both countries to “revitalise” interest of Afghan businessmen in Pakistani products.

TCCAA general secretary Haji Wahid called upon all stakeholders to play their due role in enhancing the volume of bilateral trade while focusing on the removal of hurdles to goods clearance and speedy movement of traders across the border.

He expressed displeasure at the way the previous TCCAA cabinet handled the issue and said the new cabinet would expand its scope of negotiations with stakeholders and take concrete steps to restore the confidence of traders from both countries.

Mr Wahid urged authorities to make the required changes to customs clearing procedure to the relief of traders.

“The government needs to do away with this policy of fear and intimidation towards Afghan traders in particular and other Afghan nationals in general to remove mistrust and restore confidence between the two countries and increase commercial activities to benefit traders on both sides of the border,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2024