KHYBER
The extra-restricted trading policies, border management and continual deterioration of Pak-Afghan ties have deprived Pakistan to get hold of the Kabul market for its merchandise commodities.
The traders are of the view that border management policy has made the Afghan businessmen ill-omened and they have leaned towards other neighboring countries for buying goods.
Former President of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI)Zahid Shinwari said in spite of the fact that in Pak-Afghan mutual business, Pakistan has share of 90% while Afghanistan has only 10% part of it but still the former has not given priority while policies for western border have been making in security perspective rather to boost business.
He said that in 2012 Pakistan had $2.7 billion business with Kabul but after the introduction of border management policy, it started reducing and in 2015 it declined to $1.7 billion.
In 2016 it further went down to $1.5 he added and last year it touched the figure of $880 million, the lowest number of the decade.
Chief executive of Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry Haji Jabir said that beside other hurdles created in the way of businessmen are unfavorable policies circulated by the State Bank for trading with Afghanistan.
He added that currently the State Bank has approved a policy asking the Afghan traders to produce payment in cash dollars while buying in Pakistan.
“Keeping in view the poor law and order condition in Afghanistan, how an Afghan businessman can bring cash dollars with him for merchandise purposes in Pakistan from across the border,” Haji Jabir questioned.
Expressing his view on the decline of Pak-Afghan trade, senior clearing agent Mujib Shinwari said that one main cause that suffers Pak-Afghan mutual trading is additional import duty, imposed by the Afghan custom on Pakistani goods.
With paying an extra 30% to 40% duty, it is impossible for the Pakistani commodities to compete with goods imported from Iran, India, China and other Central Asian countries, Shinwari argued.
Torkham Labor Union chief Farman Shinwari said that with decreasing of Pak-Afghan trade approximately 4000 daily wagers and laborers have been deprived of the earning of three meals for their families.
Like Torkham route, Pakistan has lost an opportunity to easily occupy Afghanistan market for its trading goods and the vacuum created by it has been filled by other countries including Iran, India, Shinwari argued.
