Pakistan, Afghanistan sign bilateral trade meeting minutes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan have signed agreed minutes of bilateral trade meeting held here on May 8, expressing the desire to enhance business ties between them by overcoming existing challenges through frequent interaction and extended facilitation.

From Pakistan side, the minutes were signed by Secretary Commerce Mohammad Younus Dagha, whereas from Afghanistan side, Deputy Minister for Industries and Commerce Kamila Sidiqi signed the documents, said a press release issued here Thursday.

Minister for Commerce Mohammad Pervaiz Malik, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal, officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Textiles, members of the Afghan ministerial delegation, and embassy officials were also present on the occasion.

The Afghan ministerial delegation, who arrived in Islamabad on May 7, had been holding policy and expert level talks with Pakistani counterparts for improvement of bilateral trade relations.

After the signing ceremony, both sides had a brief discussion and expressed the desire to enhance trade relations between the two countries by overcoming existing challenges and impediments through frequent interaction and extending facilitation.

The announcement by the Prime Minister of Pakistan during his recent visit to Afghanistan regarding removal of regulatory duties on import of Afghan products was also discussed during the recent visit and talks.

As per discussions on May 8, 2018, the Afghanistan side had requested for removal of regulatory duties from fresh fruits, vegetables, dry fruits and other goods.

The ministry of commerce assured to accommodate the Afghan request to all possible extent. In addition it was also agreed to facilitate Afghan cotton exports to Pakistan.

The Afghan delegation thanked the Pakistani Government for their hospitality and showing the spirit of accommodation about concerns of Afghan side on SPS/Quarantine certification and regulatory duties.

The ambassador of Afghanistan assured to remove impediments in bilateral and transit trade with Pakistan.