PESHAWAR, May 10: The just concluded Afghanistan Rebuild Trade Fair 2003 has laid the foundation for strengthening bilateral trade relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

This was stated by Ghulam Sarwar Khan Mohmand, president, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), while addressing a press conference here on Saturday.

He said MOUs worth $225 million were signed with Afghan buyers during the three-day long fair of which the Attock Oil Refinery signed an MOU worth $100 million.

Other sectors where MOUs were signed included to-

bacco, bicycles PVC pipes, and herbal medicines.

In reply to a question, he agreed that cost-wise Pakistani products were expensive as compared to Indian, Chinese and Iranian goods and that was why these countries had made a place in Afghan markets.

Replying to another question, he said, he told Afghan buyers not to press for cheaper goods as Pakistani products are best quality-wise and we are not going to compromise on it.

Mr Mohmand said Afghan Ariana flights will soon resume from Peshawar. Five flights will operate in a week of which two will fly between Peshawar and Kabul, three on the Islamabad-Kabul sector and one between Karachi and Kandahar.—APP