Chairman Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), Zubair Motiwala has said that it is commendable to observe that despite economic and health-related challenges, the Government of Pakistan is keenly strategizing for a sustainable and safe mechanism to keep the borders operational.
On behalf of the business community across the borders, he lauded the vision of Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan to support Afghanistan, especially during challenging times of Covid-19 Pandemic, by ensuring the continuation of both bilateral and transit trade, and to serve the cause on humanitarian ground to extend all possible basic necessities and healthcare facilities to the citizens of Afghanistan.
Motiwala mentioned that the PAJCCI from both sides has closely been coordinating with relevant ministries and embassies for keeping the trade functional along with the movement of people stuck across the borders, without having any health related implications.
He said that all stakeholders are willing to support any initiative taken in this context. The business community from Torkham and Chaman is also eagerly ensuring that Quarantine management mechanism is in order and expecting to receive specific guidelines from the ministry to ensure smooth movement of the consignments without further delay and losses.
Khan Jan Alokozai, Co-Chairman PAJCCI, on behalf of stakeholders from Afghanistan, also appreciated the proactive approach of the Government of Pakistan and further requested to provide immediate relief by extending the demurrage and detention free days and extend waiver where applicable to safeguard importers from incurring extensive losses in these desperate times.
In line with recent notification issued for extending relief in terms of demurrage and detention free days, the chairman PAJCCI urged the Adviser for Commerce - MoC, Abdul Razzaq Dawood, Secretary Commerce - MoC, Sardar Ahmad Sukhera, and Chairman FBR to ensure its execution at the earliest specifically in case of international shipping lines whose exorbitant detention charges, on daily basis, may lead to significant losses and can cause distress amongst the traders in terms of economic deadlock.