KABUL - Afghan Ambassador Janan Mosazai called on Pakistan Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Wednesday and discussed with him the upcoming Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting.

They agreed the 10th JEC meeting would be held on August 26, the Pakistan Embassy here said. The meeting will be held in Islamabad where the Afghanistan side would be led by Finance Minister Eklil Ahmad Hakimi, while Dar would head the Pakistani team.

Dar added Pakistani had already undertaken preparatory work and directed Economic Affairs Division Secretary Saleem Sethi to review progress on different projects and ascertain the implementation status of the decisions taken during the last JEC meeting in November 2014.

The minister proposed a technical level-meeting be held prior to formal talks between the two finance ministers, a statement from the embassy said.

The envoy informed Dar a notification about the waiver of financial guarantee of 110 per cent custom duty as well as $100 per 25 tonne charges on Pakistani goods transiting through Afghanistan to Central Asian states had been issued.

Dar welcomed the decision, hoping it would help enhance Pakistan’s trade with Central Asian states. He conveyed his good wishes to Hakimi, saying he was looking forward to the JEC meeting, which would further spur economic cooperation between the neighbours. (Pajhwok)