Islamabad, August 13, 2020 (PPI-OT): Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Establishment, Mr. Mohammad Shehzad Arbab chaired a meeting of Pak-Afghan Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG) Task Force on Border Issues and Visa Regime with Afghanistan today at National Assembly Secretariat. The purpose of the meeting was to review the progress regarding arrangements at Pak-Afghan border for improving the people to people contact and the ease of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
PM’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Affairs, Mr. Muhammad Sadiq, Ms. Shandana Gulzar Khan, MNA, Molana Salahuddin Ayubi, MNA, Mr. Ali Wazir, MNA, Mr. Mohsin Dawar, MNA, senior officers of Ministries of Commerce, Interior, FBR, NLC and representatives of Balochistan and KP Governments were also present in the meeting. Mr. Arbab was briefed on the issue of stuck up containers and the operational details of the ongoing progress at Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Angoor Adda and Chaman borders by the respective departments.
On the occasion, Mr. Arbab stated that improving the bilateral trade relations and people to people contact with Afghanistan is significant for the betterment of the two countries. In order to increase the export volume to Afghanistan, we must focus on streamlining the trade processes. It was informed by the Member Custom that 500 to 600 containers are being cleared on daily basis at Torkham Border. Further, for the purpose of speedy and transparent clearance of containers, RFID gates have been procured which will be installed after the issuance of NOC by the KP Government.
Ministry of Interior informed that number of entry visa stamps and the concerned manpower at Torkham border has been increased which will facilitate the people to people contact. Moreover, the new visa policy on Afghanistan will be finalized soon. The implementation of new visa policy will help to enhance the social, economic and commercial interactions between the people of two countries.
Mr. Arbab was apprised that phase wise progress is being made to make Chaman border operational for 24/7 on the pattern of Torkham border. Infrastructure related development is also underway in Ghulam Khan and Angoor Adda which will add to increase the bilateral trade with Afghanistan. Furthermore, pre-Covid-19 SOPs for trade have been restored at borders by NCOC which will also greatly facilitate the trade with Afghanistan.
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