ISLAMABAD: Pakistan believes in free flow of trade through its borders to Afghanistan and the Central Asian Republics (CARs), said Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Razak Dawood in a consultative meeting with officials from the region on Monday.

Dawood informed the meeting about his talks with Afghan leadership during his visit to Kabul in November while adding that consultations have begun with stakeholders to negotiate a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, he added that work on revision of the Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) was in final stages. A delegation from Afghanistan will visit Pakistan during Dec 28-30 to discuss the PTA, APTTA and Joint Border Markets.

The government of Uzbekistan also invited Dawood to visit the country in January next year for the inaugural meeting of joint working group on trade and economy in Tashkent which will examine the prospects of a PTA between the two countries.

Moreover, the meeting also discussed the Afghanistan-Pakistan bilateral trade at length.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Arbab Shahzad stressed the need for resolution of trade disputes between the two countries at the Pak-Afghan Trade and Investment Forum 2020 which reviewed the bilateral trade relationship at the seventh meeting of Executive Committee of Pakistan Afghanistan Parliamentary Friendship Group.

An official from the Ministry of Commerce told the meeting that trade dispute resolution mechanism is functional and the details would also be deliberated upon in renewal of trade agreement with Afghanistan.

On the issue of air connectivity, the meeting highlighted that PIA flight’s fares were relatively high for Afghan nationals which would be decreased. The forum also recommended an increase in number of PIA flights to Afghanistan.

Special Envoy for Afghanistan Sadiq Khan said the fares need to be standardised as per international standards.

Moreover, a Ministry of Railway official also briefed the committee on the eight projects to facilitate trade between the two countries. He also said that around 28 trains are being utilised for Pak-Afghan transit trade. He added that the ML-1 China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would run from Torkham to Peshawar.

An official from the Ministry of Port and Shipping said that a dedicated lane cannot be spared for Afghan Transit Trade however cross stuffing would be allowed soon.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2020