President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Hussain Ahmed Ozgen has expressed deep concern over the imposition of 20 percent import duty on Pakistani goods by the Afghan government.
He said that it would hamper the country's export besides creating further problems for the exporters.
"Pakistan under the Afghan Transit Trade has put the economy of the country at stake for their Afghan brethren and they in return have imposed 20 percent duty, which has put our products worth billions at stake," Ozgen said while talking to the journalists here on Thursday in chamber office.
He said that by the imposition of 20 percent duty on all kinds of Pakistani products the Afghan government would cause a disaster to Pakistani exports, adding it would also give a chance to
Indian and Iranian products and exporters to make space for their products in that market.
He urged the government to look into the matter seriously and take immediate actions accordingly.
He asked the government to raise the issue at high level with the Afghan government so that an early solution can be derived and reservation of exporters could be resolved.
PAK-TURKEY ACCORD: Meanwhile, he said, the recent accord between Pakistan and Turkey would boost the socio-economic structure of both the countries.
He said: "It is high time for the Muslim world to enhance their trade and commerce relations, so that they could get rid of the dependency upon Europe and America."
Expressing his views on the recent agreement between Pakistan and Turkey, the RCCI chief said, "it is a healthy sign that Muslim countries are enhancing trade and commerce ties."
"Pakistan and Turkey can take benefits from the experience of each other," he said, adding, "Pakistan can share expertise in tourism sector as Turkey is rich in this industry and getting a huge revenue from this side."
Ozgen said: "Turkey is the second county in the Muslim world, which has a prominent status in term of defence technology as it prepares world class jet engines etc."
He further noted that both the countries are situated at great geographical location in the world. "Turkey can have the access to the Central Asian states from Pakistan whereas Pakistan can have a chance to access to Europe through Turkey".

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2004

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