ISLAMABAD: Documents available with Pakistan Today indicate that Pakistani exports to Afghanistan have plunged to $ 1.2 billion in 2016-17 whereas it was recorded $ 2.7 billion in 2010-11.
Statistics showed that trade value between the two countries dropped by $ 1 billion to $ 1.5 billion in last year.
Sources told this scribe that Pakistan exports to the neighbouring country are decreasing day by day due to frequent closure of the border, on the other hand, Iranian exports to Afghanistan has increased to $ 2.5 billion in 2016 which were $ 170 million in 2010-11.
Both the countries have direct air and land connectivity, however, bilateral trade between the two countries declined due to bad law and order situation in Afghanistan and issues being faced by the business community of both countries, sources added.
In last year, India, Iran and Afghanistan had signed the trilateral agreement on transit and trade and three countries will enhance their trade with Chabahar port which is providing direct access into the Indian Ocean. Once the Chabahar port is operational than Pakistan’s export will further see a decrease, sources added.
Officials said that the transit route via Pakistan is the most convenient route compared to route via Chabahar however arbitrary closure of border and other issues have helped other regional competitors to increase their share in the Afghan market.
Meanwhile, a meeting was held on Tuesday between the Minister for Commerce and Textile and Afghanistan Ambassador to Pakistan Hazrat Umer Zakhilwal.
Sources told that both leaders discussed the methodology to increase the trade between the neighbouring countries. It was decided that government of both countries will increase business to business contacts and include the Chambers representatives.
Furthermore, it was agreed between the two leaders that Political relations need to be kept separate from the trade relations. Progress on trade and economic relations should not be impeded by political statements, sources added.
The Commerce and Textile Minister also talked about facilitating Afghan Transit Trade and requested to share a draft agenda of the 8th Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Coordination Committee (APTTCA) meeting as early as possible.
It is worth mentioning here that the 8th APTTCA meeting has been postponed unilaterally by the Afghan side some months backs without providing any solid reasoning.
