ISLAMABAD, Feb 1: An economically strong, politically stable and vibrant Afghanistan was not only good for its people, but also for its neighbours and the whole region , said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz while talking to visiting Afghan Commerce Mistier Hedayat Amin Arsala at the Prime Minister's House here on Tuesday.

Both discussed a number of proposals and new initiatives to enhance commercial and trade ties between the two countries. The Joint Economic Commission meeting of both the countries will be held in the second week of the current month to finalize these proposals.

The Afghan minister informed the premier that his government was considering setting up an industrial estate for which he sought investment from Pakistani entrepreneurs. Mr Aziz said that Pakistani investors would be willing to invest in Afghanistan if infrastructure and security was provided by the Afghan government.

The prime minister told the Afghan minister that economic, trade, social and historic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan would be widened and deepened in future. He expressed the hope that the trade volume between the two countries would cross the figure of $1 billion by the end of the current fiscal year.

The premier said the government was taking a number of steps to facilitate and enhance trade with Afghanistan. He mentioned steps to facilitate trade with Afghanistan and said: "We are increasing the trading points up to 10 at the borer area that would be equipped with modern equipment to expedite clearance of goods.

Mr Aziz said the government was focussing on the development of infrastructure, provision of road links and better communication facilities from Gwadar to border areas in order to facilitate trade with Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Dr Kim Hak-su, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (UNESCAP) also called on the prime minister and briefed him bout the activities and projects undertake by the UN body.

The prime minister appreciated the UNESCAP initiative of setting up Morgah Biodiversity Park to help protect natural habitat of the Pothohar region. Mr Aziz expressed the hope that the project would serve as a model for other countries for conserving the natural habitat under threat of extinction.

The project, the premier further stated, would help create awareness in masses about commercial value of biodiversity and become source of income.