Karachi: The announcement by Prime Minister of Pakistan to establish 18 markets along its border with Iran and Afghanistan was highly lauded by Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The proposal iterated that 12 markets will be established along the Afghanistan border and six at border areas with Iran, whereby initially three markets would be made operational as pilot project by February 2021, two in Balochistan and one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
PAJCCI chairman welcomed the move and stated these markets will not only boost trade and curb the menace of smuggling across borders but also generate significant employment opportunities for deprived segments in adjoining border areas.
Motiwala, however, established that in order to reap potential benefits through these markets, appropriate border management mechanisms should be in place without compromising security and facilitation of entities involved. He mentioned that such markets had been making valuable contributions internationally and adopting the same in our region will add to economic prosperity, socio-economic connectivity and enhance well-being of residents across the borders.