Afghanistan allows Pakistan free transit trade to Central Asia
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani has abolished charges on transit trade from Pakistan to Central Asian Republics (CARs).
According to Finance Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Ishaq Dar, the Afghan government had waived bank guarantee and abolished charges on Pakistani exports being transited through Afghanistan for Central Asian Republics (CARs).
Talking to media, the finance minister said that Economic Adviser to Afghan President Dr Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal informed him on telephone on Sunday that Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani had accorded approval to Pakistan’s request for waiver.
It may be mentioned that Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif during his recent meeting with Afghan President in Kabul took up this issue and asked for abolishment of 110 percent of customs duty as financial guarantee and $100 charges on each 25 tons of Pakistani exports transited through Afghanistan to Central Asian countries.
Dr Zakhilwal confirmed the approval of waivers to Pakistani exports and said that directives had been issued to the concerned in this regard.
This development will help Pakistan to increase its trade with landlocked Central Asian republics because prices of products/goods will go down and will encourage more exporters and importers to look at Pakistan-Central Asian route for trade.
