By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and Afghan diplomats agreed to initiate joint efforts to remove hurdles being faced by Pakistan and Afghanistan traders in the past few years so that they could enhance import and export between the two countries.
A meeting was held on Saturday which was attended by SCCI and Pak-Afghan Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) office bearers and Afghan diplomats.
Former senior vice president and Frontier Custom Agents Association (FCAA) President Ziaul Haq chaired the meeting. Afghan consul general Najeebullah Ahmadzai was the chief guest.
Besides other businessmen, Ahmad Shah, Director, Fawad Arsha Afghan Attaché, Dr, Hameedullah Fazil Khel, Deputy Trade Attaché, Ghulam Sipas first Secretary, and other relevant officials, members of the business community, importers and exporters attended the meeting.
The SCCI delegation apprised the Afghan Consul General Najeebullah Ahmadzai about issues, which were being faced by the business community, traders, industrialists, exporters, and importers and presented recommendations for their amicable resolution.
The Afghan diplomat fully agreed with the proposals of the SCCI delegation meant to strengthen bilateral Pak-Afghan and transit trade relations as well as remove impediments in way of trade between the countries.
The SCCI delegation also invited the Afghan Consul General Najeebullah Ahmadzai to visit the Sarhad chamber.
Speaking on the occasion, Ziaulhaq Sarhadi said around 6,000 empty trucks of Afghan transit trade were stuck on the Afghan side of the Pak-Afghan border. He said it would gradually release at the request of the Sarhad chamber gradually. He said nearly 1,500 empty trucks/containers crossed the border today (Saturday)while the rest of the empty vehicles would reach Pakistan next week.
The meeting agreed to jointly resolve issues of traders, exporters, and importers to give a boost to the mutual trade and transit trade between the two neighboring countries.
Sarhadi requested 24/7 opening of Torkham and Chaman birders with Afghanistan for trade on a permanent basis. He said the Afghan Consul General and other relevant officials assured to implement of the SCCI proposal for the promotion of mutual Pak-Afghan trade and transit trade.
He praised the efforts of the Afghan Consul General for his efforts to strengthen bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and proactive measures to resolve long-standing demands and issues of the business community, traders, exporters, and importers on a priority basis.
