Zubair Motiwala from Pakistan and Khan Jan Alokozal from Afghanistan have been elected unanimously as President and Co-President of Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) during the first board meeting of the chamber held here on Tuesday.
From each side, two vice presidents were also elected; Usman Bashir Bilour and Engr. Daroo Khan from Pakistan and Mohammad Younus Momand and Haji Atiqullah Mominzada from Afghanistan. Addressing a press conference after the elections, Motiwala said PAJCCI is a joint body of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Chaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI) and Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
He said the leadership would be elected on rotational basis, one year from Pakistan and another year from Afghanistan. He said that the board consists of 11 members from each country, and PAJCCI has its two offices, one in Karachi and the other in Kabul. He said the core objective of this chamber is to facilitate peace prospects and strengthen economic and trade ties between the two countries.
Motiwala said British High Commission and Center for International Private Enterprises (CIPE) have played key role in setting up of the chamber and provided technical and financial support, adding that they are important partners in the project. When asked whether formation of PAJCCI is not interference in the domain of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Motiwala said that ministries of commerce of Pakistan and Afghanistan had given their assent for establishment of the chamber and no violation of law had taken place.
Alokozal said that it was agreed between the two sides to ease trade between the two countries and all problems, hurdles, tax issues, smuggling, would be resolved in consultation. He said this move would also revive the ancient Silk-Router for trade and give reality to the slogan South-South trade and will open the doors to CIS countries through Afghanistan.