PESHAWAR: Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industries senior vice-president Ziaul Haq Sarhadi has asked the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan for immediate removal of hurdles to the Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) to strengthen economy in the region.

Addressing a meeting of Pak-Afghan Liaison Committee on Transit Trade here on Thursday, he urged the leadership of both the neighbouring states to sit aside their political differences and ensure facilitation of the business communities on both sides of the border.

Prominent among those present on the occasion included Pak-Afghan Liaison Committee chairman Fayyaz Anwar, second secretary Afghan Consulate Mohammad Naeem Sarwaray, additional director transit trade Amjadur Rehman, additional collector customs (Torkham), and executive officer of the Trade Development Authority.

The meeting reviewed the reservations of the businessmen of both Pakistan and Afghanistan on the new transit trade agreement and demanded of their governments to take immediate steps for redressing the same.

It decided that all stakeholders, including Pak-Afghan Liaison Committee, PAJCCI and Peshawar-based Afghan Consulate, would send their recommendations for removing reservations of the business community about the Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement to the concerned agencies of their respective governments. For this purpose, they will also make contacts with the commerce ministry and other relevant organisations.

Mr Sarhadi said that business could be attracted to Pakistani ports by facilitating the business communities of both the countries.

He told the meeting that lack of interest on part of the governments and some political disputes were affecting both the ATT and bilateral trade. He called for convening a meeting to review the new Afghan transit trade agreement as soon as possible.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2017