Border markets will transform local economies: Asim Bajwa

ISLAMABAD: Chairman China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Lt General (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa has said the government has approved the establishment of eighteen border markets.

In a tweet, he said under a pilot project, two border markets will be established in Mand and Gabd areas of Balochistan and one in Shaheedano Dand in Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Bajwa said the focus of Prime Minister Imran Khan is the integration of neglected areas and these markets will transform local economies, check smuggling, and formalise trade with neighbours.

Integrate Remote areas:PM emphasised focus on earlier neglected areas.Out of approved 18, 3 border markets approved as pilot project;Mand&Gabd in Balochistan&ShaheedanoDan in KP,Will transform local economies,check smuggling&formalise trade with neighbours #PakistanMovingForward pic.twitter.com/24NqPJ8Uyg

— Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimSBajwa) September 22, 2020

Last week, Prime Minister Imran Khan had approved the establishment of 18 border markets on the international frontier with Afghanistan and Iran.

Chairing a meeting on the establishment of border markets, the prime minister said that these markets would not only provide better trade opportunities to the people living in the border areas but also help curb smuggling.

The meeting was attended by Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, prime minister’s advisers Dr Hafeez Sheikh and Razak Dawood, chief ministers Mehmood Khan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Jam Kamal Khan on Balochistan, and special assistant Asim Saleem Bajwa.

The prime minister approved the establishment of two border markets in Balochistan and one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the pilot project which would be completed and activated by February.

He directed all the departments concerned to complete the deployment of relevant staff in the approved corridors and border markets on a priority basis.

The meeting was informed that 12 border markets would be set up on the Afghanistan border and another six along Iran border. The meeting also decided to take more effective measures to curb cross-border smuggling.

PM Imran Khan said the establishment of these markets will provide better business and trade opportunities to the people living in the border areas especially youth, adding that it would also help regulate trade after the fencing at the borders.