Afghan parliamentarians have offered Pakistan business community to consider sizeable investment in the reconstruction phase of Afghanistan and have also sought technical assistance in the mutually interested areas to deepen further economic cooperation.
A 30-member group of Afghan parliamentarians led by Syed Ishaq Jilani was invited at an exclusive dinner meeting hosted by Iftikhar Ali Malik, Vice President SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SAARC CCI). The meeting was coordinated and moderated by Jahangir Bader, Secretary General, Pakistan Peoples Party.
Speaking on the occasion, Engineer Abdul Ghaffar, Member of Afghanistan Parliament, said that Pakistan has always helped Afghanistan in time of need particularly shelter to Afghan refugees and requested to the business community that Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) would help further promote economic cooperation between two countries.
Tariq Sayeed, immediate Past President SAARC CCI said that the private sector of Pakistan would request the government of Pakistan to implement APTTA in true spirit. He said that the agreement would help channelize legal trade and expand scope of economic cooperation. He also requested the leadership of Afghanistan to integrate Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a member of SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Iftikhar Ali Malik, Vice President said that Afghanistan has unique topography and has been serving as one of the oldest trade routes connecting Central Asian with Persia and Central Asia. Both countries have been enjoying amicable relations and stand firm in the time of need. He further said that the accession of Afghanistan to SAARC will help economic development of Afghanistan.
Hellay Arshad, member of Parliamentarian group from Afghanistan, whose birthday was also celebrated on the occasion, thanked the business community of Pakistan and SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry for creating this opportunity.
Senator Ghulam Ali, President FPCCI stressed the need for enhancing bilateral trade relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and requested the government of Afghanistan to involve Pakistani enterprise in the reconstruction phase of Afghanistan.
Bilateral trade between the two counties was estimated at $1.3 billion and trade balance is in favour of Pakistan by $1.2 billion. Senator Saleem Saifullah also spoke on the occasion.
The dinner was attended by more than 50 prominent business leaders from all over Pakistan and government officials.
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