PESHAWAR - As the Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade (APPT) issue lingers on, businesses of both countries are suffering mounting losses, the Pakistan prime minister has acknowledged.
Imran Khan promised the business community the APPT issue would be resolved within a week and trade between the two countries would resume at the pre-coronavirus level.
Khan directed the officials concerned to remove all hurdles to the resumption of normal bilateral trade. He also ordered clearing the backlog and consignments struck at the Drand Line.
Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) president Mian Anjum Nisar, heading a delegation of the business community, apprised the premier of the problems being faced by the industry and trade.
Khan acknowledged concerns of the business community were genuine, saying his government was focusing on addressing them on priority.
The meeting in Lahore was also attended by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh.
Problems being faced by exporters and importers in cross-border trading, particularly APTT, ease of doing business, boosting exports, input costs and taxation issues were discussed.
The participants demanded a hike in the wheat quota to stabilise its price and availability in the market. The meeting also discussed avenues of export promotion and detention/demurrage charges, which are on the rise. (Pajhwok)