ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: The government will remove all non-tariff barriers causing hurdles in the smooth Afghan Transit Trade (ATT).

This was stated by Dr Salman Shah, adviser to the prime minister on finance, in a meeting with US State Department's coordinator on Afghanistan, Ambassador Ms Maureen Quinn here on Tuesday.

According to an official announcement, matters relating to the Afghan Transit Trade, enhancement of Pakistan-Afghanistan economic relations and promotion of regional trade came under discussion.

Mr Shah informed the US envoy of Pakistan government's efforts to solve the issues and remove hurdles in the way of ATT. He said satisfactory progress had been made on all the issues raised by Afghanistan in this regard.

Pakistan is trying to improve its infrastructure and regulatory facilities to facilitate regional trade and access to countries beyond Afghanistan.

A proposed feasibility study by the Trade Development Agency of the United States government in this regard would enable Pakistan to proceed further in this direction, said the adviser.

Ms Quinn appreciated the efforts made by Pakistan to facilitate transit trade. She said removal of poverty, deprivation coupled with education and economic development of Afghanistan would solve a number of problems emanating from the area.