QUETTA, April 5: Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood has said that Islamabad has allocated Rs52 million for setting up a dry port at Chaman, a border town with Afghanistan.

He disclosed this at a meeting with a delegation of the Chaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Thursday.

The minister informed the businessmen of Chaman that Rs16 million had already been released for the first phase of dry port on which work had been started. He deplored that duty drawback of Rs1,400 per ton allowed for cement export to Afghanistan had yielded little benefit for the country’s economy. The cement meant for export to Afghanistan is being re-marketed in Pakistan.

“The government is considering to withdraw this facility forthwith,” Mr Razak said, adding the government was committed to generating job opportunities for the people, but such practice would ultimately hamper these efforts.

He told the businessmen that they were allowed to export any item to Afghanistan in Pakistani rupee but would not be entitled to any duty drawback facility on such transactions.

Razak Dawood exhorted the exporters to increase exports to the neighbouring countries and also explore other markets to boost the national economy. He said the government would provide maximum facilities to the business community to run heir business smoothly.

President, Chaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jamal-ud-Din, and Haji Mohammad Ali apprised the minister of the problems being faced by the business community in import and export trade with Afghanistan.

Federal secretary for commerce Qamir Baig and other officials from the government departments concerned were also present on the occasion.