ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan signed a Protocol for three-month extension of Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement 2010 (APTTA) for smooth functioning of transit trade between both sides.
Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood and Minister of Industry and Commerce Afghanistan Nisar Ahmad Ghoriyani signed the agreement.
The signing ceremony was held over video link simultaneously at Kabul and Islamabad. Secretary Commerce Muhammad Sualeh Ahmad Faruqui was also present on the occasion. The representatives of the both embassies in respective capitals were also attended the event.
Speaking on the occasion, the commerce adviser shared vision of the government on trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARS) as well.
The adviser said that his vision for trade and economic relations with Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs) is to make Pakistan a hub for trade, transit and transshipment.
“Our trade must be based on secure, open, consistent, reliable and legal movement of goods at the Afghan border along with enhanced connectivity with Afghanistan and CARs”, he said.
He said that this is a long-term Vision and, through our current engagement with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, “we are laying down the foundation for its implementation. “
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the extension of the agreement and decided that the technical teams of two countries will conclude the revised agreement soon.
