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| Pakistan and Afghanistan will examine trade movement at Torkham. |
ISLAMABAD: Top officials of Pakistan and Afghanistan will meet on Monday at the Torkham border to discuss issues of trade and smooth flow of pedestrians. To enhance bilateral relations.
A high-level Pakistani delegation led by Trade Adviser Razzaq Dawood, comprising senior bureaucrats from relevant departments, will meet his Afghan counterpart. National Security Adviser Moeed Yousuf will also accompany the Pakistani delegation.
Since August 15, 2021, when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan and declared their rule, Islamabad has offered Kabul - among other humanitarian aid - exemptions from duties and taxes on fresh and dried fruits, vegetables and many other products. Offered.
According to official information, the delegation will observe the movement of pedestrians and vehicles across the border at Torkham border. The ease of movement of trucks is expected to increase bilateral trade, especially imports from Afghanistan.
Pakistan has already waived additional customs duties and regulatory duties on a number of items to help the Afghan government earn foreign exchange through exports. At the same time, Pakistan has extended the list of essential commodities exports to Afghanistan in rupees to meet the country's needs.
The scheduled meeting will discuss various important issues related to easy movement of people and patients across the border as well as issuance of temporary admission documents.
The two sides will also discuss the extension of border crossing points, the establishment of joint border infrastructure, the training of Afghan nominees for trade-capacity building courses and the smooth flow of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
The delegations will also discuss the resumption of the stalled Torkham-Jalalabad road project and the launch of a luxury bus service between Peshawar-Jalalabad and Quetta-Kandahar.
The concept of Peshawar-Jalalabad Motorway was approved in October 2016. However, the National Highway Authority has not made any progress on this basic strategic plan. The total length of the motorway is 281 km which includes parts of Peshawar-Torkham (50 km) and Torkham-Jalalabad (76 km).
On January 22, Pakistan allowed the export of 14 more items in rupees to Afghanistan through land routes due to unavailability of tradable currency through banking channels. The decision will also help the Taliban-led government continue to import essential food items from Pakistan unless the West recognizes their government.
Currently, exports of fruits and vegetables, dairy products and meat are allowed in Pakistani rupees. Exports of 14 products are expected to help restore exports to Afghanistan, which fell to its lowest level since Western occupation of Kabul by the Taliban.
Exports from Pakistan to Afghanistan fell from 5 517.24 million in the first half of FY21 to 32 328.25 million during July-December of FY22. However, imports have increased significantly during the months under review.
In 2002, the government of then-President Pervez Musharraf decided to provide facilities to exporters and provide more markets for Pakistani products in Afghanistan. As a result, the 2002 SRO-31 was issued to allow exports against the Pakistani rupee. Afghanistan's exports in 2002-03 were 38 386.67 million.
As a result of this decision, Pakistan's exports to Afghanistan reached 2.5 2.5 billion in 2014-15. Export earnings figures show that Afghanistan has emerged as the second largest export destination for Pakistan after the United States.
However, the facility was later shut down due to pressure from outside and inside.
Pakistani exporters have approached the Ministry of Commerce with a long list of other export items to allow their exports against the rupee. However, the Economic Co-ordination Committee did not approve the proposal at its last meeting.
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