SCCI urges govt to improve Pak-Afghan trade volume

PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has urged the government to remove hurdles impeding Pakistan and Afghanistan's mutual trade and economic ties stating that bilateral trade volume between the two countries can be improved up to $5 billion.

Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Sherbaz Bilour while talking to Afghan Trade Attaché in Peshawar Fawad Arash here at the chamber house on Wednesday emphasised that there was a dire need for Islamabad and Kabul to take up joint initiatives for boosting mutual trade volume.

SCCI Senior Vice President Manzoor Elahi and SCCI Vice President Junaid Altaf were also present in the meeting.

Bilour informed that the SCCI, in the recently held Pak-Afghan trade and investment forum,

had presented concrete proposals which need to be implemented to improve existing bilateral trade volume which stands at less than $1 billion.

"Implementation of SCCI's proposals would make a remarkable improvement in the country’s exports to Central Asian countries," he added.

The SCCI chief further urged Islamabad and Kabul to devise the requested joint mechanism in consultation with the SCCI to produce optimum results for the business community.