ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will improve trade relations with all neighbours, Commerce Minister Naveed Qamar said on Wednesday.

The minister was addressing the three-day conference on Peer Learning Initiatives, National Single Window Implementation and Management, organised by Pakistan Single Window (PSW) in collaboration with the International Trade Centre in the framework of the European Union-funded Ready4Trade Central Asia (R4TCA).

“The government is committed to deepening political, diplomatic, and trade relations with all our neighbouring countries”, he remarked.

Member Customs Mukarram Jah Ansari also spoke on the occasion. Trade officials from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan also participated in a Peer Learning Initiative on best practices in Single Window’s implementation and management.

Mr Qamar appreciated the efforts of PSW and stated that since this is the first in-person event in Islamabad on a very important theme it makes it even more special. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to trade facilitation.

The minister said ties with Central Asia go back several centuries and both regions have benefitted from the free flow of ideas, goods, and people over national and international boundaries from ancient times.

Mr Qamar said the government is keen to revive those ties through increased engagement on government-to-government and people-to-people levels, and by providing an enabling environment to promote regional trade and connectivity.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2022