PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fuad Ishaq has asked government to make Azakhel dry port fully functional and restart cargo trains from Peshawar to prmote business activities in the region.

He urged government to take steps to enhance trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and remove hurdles to import and export between the two neighbouring countries. Addressing a meeting during the visit of Chief Collector Customs Jamil Nasir to SCCI here, he asked government to take businesspersons into confidence while devising trade policies.

The customs collector appraisement, Mateen Alam, the collector enforcement, Ziaul Shams, and the additional director transit trade, Dr Tahir Iqbal Khattak, accompanied the chief collector on the occasion.

Jamil Nasir told the meeting that steps were being taken for ease of doing business. He said that dignity of business community should be kept intact during enforcement of rules and policies.

He stressed the need for creating an atmosphere of trust between customs department and business community. He emphasised close coordination and liaison between customs department, chambers and traders to take collective steps to resolve issues and enhance bilateral trade and export to stabilise the national economy.

The SCCI president highlighted hurdles to Pak-Afghan bilateral trade and transit trade. He urged government to revisit policies and make them business-friendly to improve national economy.

He suggested that duties of 212 items should be made equal to that of Afghanistan and Pakistani exporters should be allowed to export those items so that menace of smuggling could be eradicated completely. Mr Ishaq demanded making Azakhel dry port fully functional, re-launch of cargo trains from Peshawar and functionalisation of railways system.

He proposed formation of evaluation committees at local level. He said that SCCI was taking practical measures for uplift of honey sector, which was a major source of foreign exchange and export.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2024