DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Industries and Commerce Abdul Karim Khan has emphasized the significant religious, cultural, and geographical ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, highlighting the vast opportunities for economic development and trade between the two nations.
He stressed the importance of leveraging these ties and promoting mutual trade, noting the key role of trade delegations in accessing each other’s markets.
Abdul Karim assured support for Afghan students in the province, offering cooperation for skill training opportunities.
He expressed these views during a meeting with an Afghan diplomatic delegation, led by Afghan Consul General Hafiz Mohibullah, in Peshawar on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by Secretary of Industries, Commerce, and Technical Education Aamir Afaq, along with officials from the KP Board of Investment and Trade.
The two sides discussed matters of mutual interest, focusing on expanding trade and business activities, increasing the volume of Pak-Afghan trade, and exploring investment opportunities.
The Afghan delegation raised concerns about obstacles to transit trade and visa processing, requesting the provincial government’s assistance in addressing these issues.
They also presented proposals for improving facilities at the Torkham border.
Afghan Consul General Hafiz Mohibullah highlighted the high volume of daily visitors to the Afghan Consulate in Peshawar and the frequent movement of people between the two countries, stressing the need for enhanced facilities to accommodate this traffic.
In response, the CM aide assured the Afghan diplomats of the provincial government’s full cooperation and pledged to bring their proposals to the attention of KP’s Chief Minister.
He also promised to send recommendations to the relevant federal authorities to address their concerns.
He further pointed out that Peshawar, as a key location for medical tourism, offers significant opportunities for Afghan citizens, including attractive investment incentives across various sectors.
He noted the importance of agricultural trade between the two countries, emphasizing the need for trade facilitation to ensure the timely arrival of goods such as fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural products.
Pakistan has always extended support to Afghanistan, particularly through the hospitality extended to millions of Afghan refugees over several decades, and that linguistic, religious, and cultural ties have further strengthened the relationship between the two countries.
