Parliamentarians from Afghanistan have offered the Pakistani business community to invest in the construction phase of Afghanistan and extend technical assistance in the areas of mutual interest to enhance economic cooperation. A 30-member delegation of Afghan parliamentarians led by Syed Ishaq Jilani was invited to an exclusive dinner meeting hosted in Islamabad by Iftikhar Ali Malik, Vice-president Saarc, Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the PPP Senator Jahangir Bader. Engr Abdul Ghaffar an Afghan MP said Pakistan has always helped Afghanistan in the time of need, particularly providing shelter to the Afghan refugees.

He noted that the effective implementation of the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement would help promote economic cooperation between the two countries. Tariq Saeed, vice-president of the Confederation of Asia Pacific Chamber of Commerce and Industry assured the delegates that Pakistan’s private sector would request their government to implement the ATTA in letter and spirit, which would ultimately channel trade.

He requested the MP’s for the integration of Afghan Chamber of Commerce and industry as a member of Saarc chamber. Iftikhar Malik said further that Afghanistan had been serving as one of the oldest trade routes connecting Central Asia with South Asia and Persia. Both nations have since long been enjoying amicable relations and the Afghanistan affiliation with the Saar chamber would help in economic development of the country.

Ms Hellay Arshad another Afghan MP thanked the business community of Pakistan and the Saarc chamber for hosting the delegation. Senator Ghulam Ali, president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) stressed the need for enhancing bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and requested the Kabul government also involve Pakistani enterprises in the reconstruction phase of the country.

It is estimated that the bilateral trade between the two countries is at $1.3 billion and the balance is in favor of Pakistan with exports at $1.2 billion.

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