ISLAMABAD, March 28: Pak-Afghan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) is meeting in Kabul on Saturday with a view to strengthen trade and economic relations between the two countries.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance Shaukat Aziz is leading a seven-member delegation for the JEC meeting. Afghan Finance Minister Ashraf Gani will lead his delegation at the meeting.

Aziz told a news conference on Friday that the purpose of Commission’s meeting was to discuss a number of issues including matters relating to Afghan Transit Trade (ATT).

“We have reviewed the trade list of 24 banned items under ATT which will be further thinned after talks with Afghan authorities”, he said.

However, he did not like to give the details of items which were being removed from the list. “We will be asking the Afghan authorities that those items which are pronged to re-export to Pakistan should be subjected to considerable duty”, he said. The motive, he said, was to discourage smuggling and protect the local industry.

Responding to a question the adviser said that there was no restriction on Afghan goods going to India. “But the other way round yes as it is a part of overall issues we have with India”, he added.

He said Pakistan wanted to help Afghan government in the construction of Turkum-Jalalabad road. The issue, he said, will come up for detailed discussion for which Pakistan has already approved $100 million funding.

So far, he said that Pakistan had disbursed $10 million financial support to Hamid Karzai government.

Aziz said that after the JEC meeting, private sector people of both the countries will hold discussion to enhance trade relations for which dates will be finalized shortly.

Answering another question, he said that an offer would be made to Afghan government to use Gwadar Port rather than Karachi Port to export its goods to Pakistan and beyond. He said Gwadar port was likely to be completed next year.

“Gwadar will be a focal point to transit trade to Afghanistan and the Central Asia”, Aziz said.