December 28, 2007	Friday	Zilhaj 17, 1428

ISLAMABAD Dec 27: Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro has stressed the need for developing sustainable commerce and increased interaction between the business communities of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In his first meeting with visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai here on Thursday, Mr Soomro said a sustainable commerce was in the best interest of the neighbouring countries and the region, an official handout said.

President Karzai in his remarks said the prosperity of Afghanistan depended on establishing economic ties through trade and business with neighbouring countries, especially Pakistan. In order to achieve this, he said, there was an urgent need to develop the communication and transportation infrastructure between the two countries.

While emphasising upon the need for increased interaction among business communities, Mr Soomro said it would be mutually beneficial to share their resources and potential to bring about a change in the life of common people.

The prime minister said the country wanted further strengthening of economic and trade ties with Afghanistan.

Mr Karzai said his talks with President Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf on security and other issues had been very fruitful and he expressed confidence that the two countries would be able to curb terrorism.

He informed that the Afghan government had initiated measures to check drug trade. He appreciated Pakistan’s support in controlling drug trafficking.

Caretaker Minister for Foreign Affairs, caretaker Minister for Textile and caretaker Minister for Youth were also present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, speaking at a luncheon hosted for the visiting Afghan president, Mr Soomro said peace and stability in Afghanistan was in the mutual interest of both countries and called for building a relationship of trust and close collaboration.

Meanwhile, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has termed terrorism a big threat to trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Speaking at the Pak-Afghan Business Forum here on Thursday, he called upon businessmen and members of the civil society to raise their voice against the menace and work for its eradication.

He said terrorist activities were hampering business and trade in the region, adding that the fight against extremism and terrorism could succeed with improved trade and economic activities. “From Afghanistan we will be with you, if you take one step, we will take hundred steps in this war against terror,” he said.

He said trade between two countries had grown over the past six years and its volume, which was just $200 million in 2001, had increased to $1.3 billion, mainly because of exports from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

Mr Karzai said Afghanistan had only $50 million share in the $1.3 billion trade between the two countries and called for removing the imbalance.

He urged the business community to invest in the industrial sector of Afghanistan.

Karzai said the Afghan government had taken significant steps to facilitate investment and simplify procedures for issuing licences for business. He said the biggest investment was of $2.8 billion had been made by China in the field of copper. He said there was no restriction on import of cement from Pakistan. However, he said, there were taxes on import of beverages till March next year with the aim of encouraging the local industry.

On the issue of transit trade, the Afghan president said the matter could be discussed in the next meeting of the Joint Economic Commission.

Caretaker Commerce Minister Shahzada Alam Monoo said there was a need to transform the bilateral political relationship into business relationship.