INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Senior Vice President of Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, on Wednesday expressed his deep
concern over extreme decrease in the bilateral trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.In a press statement, Sarhadi who is
likewise Executive Member Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry blames enforcement of 2 percent Infrastructure Development Cess by Khyber
Government on export cargo as one of the reason for current dip in trade between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics,
Pakistani media reported.He said in the current past the volume of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan was around 2.5 billion
dollars which has diminished to mere 700 million dollars.Citing other reasons behind this plunge in trade volume, Zia stated it consists of
frequent closure of Pak-Afghan border at Torkhem border, Temporary Admission Document, application of ban on Pak-Afghan trade including 100
percent bank guarantee, addition of 14 items into unfavorable list, enforcement of 10 percent processing fees, constraints at Karachi port
causing holding of more than 300 containers of transit trade.The post Joint chamber worried over decrease in Afghanistan-Pakistan trade
initially appeared on Ariana News.
