INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Pakistan&s Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has called on Islamabad to take steps to reopen the key Afghanistan-Pakistan
Highway for trade and transportation.In a statement issued this week, SCCI President Fazal Moqeem said trade has been brought to a halt due
to the closure of Afghanistan-Pakistan trade routes over the past few months. He said the mutual trade volume and transit trade had dropped
to an alarming level owing to the closure of the trade route
As a result, trade has shifted from Pakistan to Iran and Central Asian Republics.The SCCI chief feared bilateral trade would grind to a halt
completely if Islamabad fails to resolve the issue urgently. This will not only be detrimental to the national economy but also trigger
unemployment owing to the closure of business and trade,& said Muqeem.Meanwhile, Zahidullah Shinwari, a businessman, stated that the
bilateral trade volume level had decreased substantially, and that traders on both sides have incurred huge financial losses. Shinwari said
local people and travellers also faced enormous hardships due to the blockaded highway
He called on Islamabad to urgently resolve the problem. Shinwari called for a solution to be found to the issue with mutual consensus and
negotiation.The ongoing trade challenges, including route closures, rising customs tariffs, and what Afghanistan sees as Pakistan&s
disregard for established trade agreements, have had a significant impact on Afghan exports. For Afghanistan, Pakistan remains one of the
most important trading partners
The two countries share long-standing economic ties, with Afghanistan relying heavily on Pakistan as a market for its agricultural products,
including fresh fruits, vegetables, and dry fruits.The reduction in Afghan exports comes at a critical time when the country&s economy is in
dire need of stability and growth
The disruption of trade routes and the imposition of tariffs further complicate efforts to strengthen Afghanistan&s trade sector and promote
The post Pakistani chamber calls on Islamabad to urgently reopen trade route from Afghanistan first appeared on Ariana News.
