A Pakistani delegation led by Commerce Secretary Saleh Farooqui arrived in Kabul today. Earlier, Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry said the delegation will discuss trade, transit and transportation with the Afghan authorities.
Earlier, Afghanistan’s acting Minister of Commerce and Industry, Nooruddin Azizi, said that further facilitation of bilateral trade will be discussed in talks with the Pakistani delegation.
“Regarding issues of trade and transit of Afghanistan and Pakistan, discussions will be held including cross-staffing. The barter trade issue and coal trade between the two countries will be discussed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said Pakistan is trying to make several business ports in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan wants to make new ports in Kunar, Nuri and some other provinces,” said Khanjan Alokozai, member of the ACCI.
The Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock (ACAL) said that there should be further facilities for the transportation of goods from Afghanistan to Pakistan.
The head of ACAL, Mirwais Hajizada, complained about the existing problems for the export of Afghanistan’s fresh fruits and vegetables in the business ports between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“We have problems in customs, particularly at Torkham. It is the fruit season. We call on the Pakistani government to not make promises as they did with the previous governments,” he said.
Based on numbers of the ACCI, the export rate of Afghanistan to Pakistan in the solar year of 1400 reached $305 million and the amount of imports from Afghanistan to Pakistan totaled $800 million.
“The problems of our exportation is also a lot, particularly for fruits which are harvested at the current season,” said Mahbobullah Mohammadi, an Afghan trader.
