KABUL, Sept 26: Completion of Kabul-Turkmanistan Highway and Kandahar-Herat-Torghandi highway will provide transit access to Pakistani exporters to Central Asian Republic (CARs).

This was stated by the President, Kabul Chamber of Commerce, Shujja-ud-Dowla while talking to APP during his visit to Pakistan’s first ever single country exhibition here on Friday. Pakistan Commercial Counsellor S.M. Tahir was also present on the occasion.

The exhibition was open for Afghan people as well as businessmen on Friday as it was public holiday in Afghanistan.

Shujja-ud-Dowla appreciated the efforts of EPB, Pakistan embassy and businessmen for organizing such a large exhibition in Kabul and said this will go a long way in further promoting the two-way trade.

He said that Torkham-Kabul-Salong Pass rout will connect Pakistan with Uzbekistan while Chaman-Kandahar-Herat-Torghundi route will connect with Turkmanistan. He pointed out that Kabul Chamber had already agreed with Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to provide transit facility to Pakistani businessmen if they wish to export their goods to Central Asian States.

To a question about the security of merchandise on these routes, he said that more than 1,000 special soldiers, trained by International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) have been deployed on these highways for the safety of goods and travellers.

“It is now 100 per cent safe to use these routes not only during the day but also during the nights,” he said and added that foreign companies are building these highway and they travel on daily basis on these roads.

Talking of the steps being taken to promote bilateral trade, he said Kabul Chamber has signed an MoU with FPCCI for this purpose while the joint committees with Sarhad and Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry are already there.

He pointed out that 70pc to 80pc consumer goods and 90pc of construction material comes from Pakistan. He said Afghan markets are flooded with Pakistani products which are familiar in this country.

He said Afghan government has issued 1,500 construction licences to Pakistani and foreign companies during the last one year. Similarly, for the promotion of trade, the government has issued about 4,000 licences to Afghan and foreign traders in the same period, he added.—APP