KHYBER: A four-day training workshop of the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor (KPEC) concluded here on Friday with the speakers advocating trade-friendly policies and conducive atmosphere to promote the country’s commercial ties with neighbours, especially Afghanistan.

The concluding session of the event titled ‘improving administrative skills and business promotion’ was held at the hujra of local trader Haji Jabir Khan in Landi Kotal area.

Participants included KPEC director Imran Zahoor, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment president Akhtar Jan, Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, president Khyber Chamber of Commerce retired Colonel Sadeeq Afridi and local traders and customs clearing agents, who underwent the training.

The KPEC director said that the new project was not just about building a road to the Torkham border but it would also provide multiple trading and business opportunities to local traders and entrepreneurs.

KPEC training workshop ends in Landi Kotal

He said that the training programme was held to educate local traders about business planning, organisation and marketing, digital policy and modern banking system.

“The KPEC will help remove unnecessary impediments to imports and exports, and work for a conducive and trade-friendly atmosphere,” he said.

Mr Zahoor called for the registration of business organisations saying that it will help the government devise a “genuine” trade policy.

He asked businessmen to adopt modern digital technology to compete in the world.

The director said that the proposed KPEC would connect Pakistan and Afghanistan with Central Asia through the Khyber Pass.

“We will build a 48-kilometer long and four-lane expressway between Peshawar and Torkham by June 2024. It will generate local economic opportunities and create up to 100,000 jobs for Pakistanis in Khyber district,” he said.

Mr Zahoor said that the project was jointly designed by the National Highway Authority and the KP government.

He said that the expressway would save time and vehicle operating costs associated with traffic flows, which was around Rs35.5 billion.

Earlier, local traders complained about slow clearance of trade goods at Torkham and a long delay in the construction of the customs terminal.

They also regretted traffic congestion, lengthy scrutiny of transporters by security personnel and delay in the electronic scanning of loaded and empty vehicles.

Certificates were later given away to participants of the workshop.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2023