KHYBER
Pakistan exported 161 million trading commodities to Afghanistan via the Torkham border in the last three months. Relaxation in trading policy is the main cause that raises business between two neighboring countries
This was revealed by the chief collector custom Muhammad Saleem while talking to the media persons during his visit to Torkham custom house on Tuesday.
He said that export of trading commodities to Afghanistan from Pakistan is rising and in the last three months i.e July, August and September volume of export touched a figure of 161 million dollars.
He maintained that Pak export to Afghanistan through the border t in these months in 2021-22 was 90 million dollars.
Approximately 3.2 million dollars have been added to the national exchequer in the form of custom duties, he remarked.
Custom chief collector added that pro-trading policies with Afghanistan, establishment of a modern terminal in Torkham and functioning of ITTMS caused enhancement of Pak-Afghan trade at the crossing and soon Torkham border would become hub of business activities.
Signing a transit agreement with Tajikistan after Uzbekistan, on average five thousand vehicles daily and one hundred fifty thousand monthly would access the Torkham crossing, he remarked.
Muhammad Saleem added that with pro-trading initiatives adopted t at the Torkham border import from Afghanistan also increased and in months of July,August,September 2021-22 18866 vehicles crossed into Pakistan via Torkham while in 2022-22 in the upper mention months 26772 trucks carrying merchandise goods entered the into Pakistan.
He further maintained that growing trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia would provide job opportunities to millions of citizens and would have a positive impact on the country ‘s economy.
It is worth mentioning here that in 2015-16 Pakistan export to Afghan through the Torkham border was three billion dollars, which reduced to ninety million dollars in 2020.
Earlier, the chief collector met with representatives of Pak-Afghan joint chamber and Khyber chamber of commerce and industry who apprised him of their difficulties.
The custom high up assured them that they would address their lawful problems and initiatives would be adopted to resolve it.
