Measures suggested improving trade with Afghanistan, Central Asia
Capacity of Afghan officials hindering trade, making exports costly
Int'l assistance to trade facilitation efforts can ensure peace, stability
Islamabad: Dated: Nov 27
Chairman Founder Group Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Munawar Mughal has said that government needs to take more steps to improve trade with Afghanistan which will also boost Pakistan's share in Central Asia markets.
Government should launch a training programme to improve capacity of Afghan customs officials to ensure swift movement of goods to save time and costs, he said.
Law and order, illegal checkpoints, administrative delays, and informal payments account for almost half of transit costs, he said while speaking to exporters at ICCI.
Munawar Mughal said that the tyranny of weak institutions in Afghanistan is more punishing to trade than the tyranny of rocky terrain, he said. Additional investment in trade infrastructure, harmonizing customs procedures and regulatory framework can help all stakeholders, he opined.
Lauding the government's move to grant MFN status to India, he said that all political issues related to Afghanistan need to be resolved. He said that Afghanistan lost 6 points in Doing Business report in 2012 to bag 16oth position which is a matter of concern.
Iranian transit trade has emerged as a challenge as the Afghanistan-Iran border areas are more stable than the Pak-Afghan border points, he said.
Munawar Mughal said that US can do more to encouraging trade and investment in Afghanistan, adding that an international resolve can result in a functional state and growing economy which will also help Pakistan, her major trading partner, he said.
At the occasion veteran trade leader Zafar Bakhtawari said that Afghan integration will gain from projects that link Herat to Iran, Balkh to Uzbekistan, and Kandahar to Pakistan ensuring additional revenue which currently stands at 31 per cent of the Afghan budget.
There is a need for frequent exhibitions in Kabul to showcase capacity of Pakistani industry related to construction, food processing, services, transport, and communication sectors, said Khalid Chaudhry.
Poorly designed and managed border points, long waiting times encouraging bribery, increased handling costs, risks of cargo loss and damage, restrictive practices, low vehicle standards, and lack of financial and insurance systems which are keeping Afghanistan underdeveloped should be considered seriously, exporters said.
--
Munawar Mughal
Chairman, Founder Group, ICCI,
Member Managing Committee, FPCCI,
Former President ICCI, Former Chairman FPCCI Capital Office,
Contacts - Off: 051-2253145 & 2250526. Mobile: 0300-5207448.
Tariq Khattak, Islamabad, Pakistan.
GSM = 0300-9599007 and 0333-9599007
Email: Tariqgulkhattak@gmail.com
Thanks for participating.
Kindly suggest improvements.
Please let us know:
I. If you want to receive individual emails
II. Receive one mail with all activity in it
III. Do not want to receive any mail at all
REQUESTS:
1) Please directly contact sender for personal/individual correspondence.
2) Try to discuss issues that will catch attention of many readers.
3) Please avoid sending messages in any language other than English
4) Avoid sending messages addressed to many recipients.
5) Do not send messages aimed at personal publicity.
6) Please do not send personal/other links unless necessary.
7) The Group is not obliged to publish printed news,
very short/long comments and objectionable material.
8) Every mail cannot be published; it will overload Mailboxes
of our valued members.
9) Try to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable, Unsympathetic and/or Unpleasant.
x==x==x==x==x==x
Please note that,
It is a common platform for journalists and all others who are interested in knowing about the issues that are sometimes not reported. This group favours philosophy of progress, reform and the protection of civil liberties. Please share and educate others. The owners and managers of this site do not necessarily agree with any of the information. It is an open forum; everyone is allowed to share anything. Mails sent by members and non-members are subject to approval. However, we are not responsible in any way for the contents of mails / opinion sent by members. We do not guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. (Nor can print and electronic media). If you find content on this site which you feel is inappropriate or inaccurate, incomplete, or useless you are most welcome to report it or contradict it.
Thanks a lot.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Gujranwalafun@Aol.com
Gujranwala@windiowslive.com