ISLAMABAD: Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood has said the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) and Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) will be finalized between Pakistan and Afghanistan by the end of January 2021.
In a series of tweets, the advisor said, “Hopefully, APTTA & the PTA will be finalized by the end of Jan 2021. I will hold extensive meetings with all stakeholders in the coming days. Tremendous opportunities exist and I hope that our businessmen will realize them.”
Hopefully, APTTA & the PTA will be finalised by the end of Jan 2021. Will hold extensive meetings with all stakeholders in the coming days. Tremendous opportunities exist and I hope that our businessmen will realise them. 2/2
— Abdul Razak Dawood (@razak_dawood) November 18, 2020
The development announced by Adviser to PM for Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood, on Tuesday following meetings of the APTTCA held in Kabul to deal with problems hindering the smooth implementation of a revised transit treaty.
In this regard, a trade delegation had left for Kabul on Monday was there for two days to boost bilateral trade ties. During the meetings, extensive and fruitful deliberations were held on the whole spectrum of bilateral trade and investment relations including formalising of informal cross-border trade while the two sides also discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to trade and economic integration.
“Held an extensive round of discussions with the concerned officials and a 1-on-1 meeting with H.E. the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani. Many understandings reached on several issues relating to trade & transportation,” the advisor said.
According to the official announcement, Dawood also met High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) Chairman Abdullah Abdullah and thanked him for his support, in addition, to calling on Da Afghan Wolesi Jirga speaker and the Da Afghanistan Bank governor.
Razak hoped that the visit would mark the beginning of a new era of trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. “This deepening of trade and investment relations between the two countries would enhance Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan and beyond, to the central Asian countries,” he concluded.
