PESHAWAR - At the concluding session of two-day National Conference on Afghan Transit Trade, the experts and analysts have called for adopting a joint strategy to boost up trade relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which could be beneficial for economic prosperity and improvement of trade activities in the region.
The two-day national conference titled "Pak Afghan Transit Trade its Dynamics, Challenges and Prospects" held under auspices of Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar in collaboration with Higher Education Commission,
Islamabad, the Bank of Khyber, and National Bank of Pakistan. The conference summing-up at the second day proceeding, most of the speakers have said that the transit trade has integral role to improve trade relations between two neighboring states and to boost up economic activities in the region.
The participants have strongly supported the transit trade agreement with Pakistan and Afghanistan reflecting the commitment both the countries under the Geneva accord. They said that situation had become complex in presence of trade restrictions, which should improve from taking such initiatives.
Afghan Consulate General in Peshawar Muhammad Ibrahim Khel, while speaking as chief guest at closing ceremony, informed that most of items of transit goods were impounded at the Karachi and Port Qasim for last several months, saying the shipment delays caused huge rental losses against actual price of the products.
He requested the Government of Pakistan to allow timely supply of goods to Afghanistan after its thorough checking. Seven thousand books which are to be provided to the Afghan students for the new academic year are lying stranded at Karachi port which must be allowed to supply at the earliest, the Consulate General maintained.
Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Khel said that three decades of war had badly affected the basic infrastructure of Afghanistan.
he neighboring countries especially Pakistan must join hands with us to help rebuilding Afghanistan and its return to normalcy. He added that a good number of Pakistani workers were attached in different business and fields in Afghanistan.
He said Afghanistan had untapped natural resources worth trillions of dollars and Pakistani investors must come up to establish ventures in Afghanistan.
Others key speakers of the second day were included Dr Maqsood ul Hassan Noori, Acting President Islamabad Policy Research Institute, Prof Dr Muhammad Ijaz Butt of Government Post Graduate College Lahore and others. Dr Waqar of Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar delivered presentation on Transit trade or a smuggling bonanza. (Agencies)