PESHAWAR: Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) Chairman Zubair Motiwala lauded Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for his efforts to ease strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In a press statement issued here on Tuesday, Zubair Motiwala said at this time of deteriorating relationship and growing mistrust, the recent visit of the Prime Minister to Afghanistan can be termed as significantly instrument for strengthening the historical ties between the two nations.
Chairman PAJCCI strongly welcomed the announcements of prime minister made during the visit, which also satisfies the manifesto of PAJCCI and are in alignment with the PAJCCI’s proposals recently presented during Af-Pak Regional Connectivity Forum in Islamabad.
The four significant declarations included that economic connectivity between the two countries will not be impacted by the political whims and security imperatives, abrupt border closures would be avoided, initiation of pending table-talks especially holding of APTTCA and JEC meetings and waiver of the regulatory duties only for Afghan exports to Pakistan that were imposed in October 2017. Additionally, as a goodwill gesture, the PM also gifted 40,000 MT wheat to Afghanistan.
Motiwala showed confidence that this initiative of breaking the ice will help revive and strengthen long-standing business ties between both the countries and urged both the governments to keenly follow-up such concerns and develop measures of along-termm nature, for ensuring overall economic stability in the region.
Chairman PAJCCI further requested for a call-on meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan for deliberating upon important issues that require policy advocacy and for incorporating strategic insight to facilitate the solution of major issues hampering the historical ties between two brotherly nations.
He also made reference to PAJCCI’s recent initiative of preparing a comprehensive proposal on the basis of stakeholders’ perspectives from across the border. This policy document, is being prepared across the border with consensus and will shortly be submitted to the governments at both the sides in order to facilitate a futuristic and constructive strategising across the border.
