ISLAMABAD, 29 December 2020, (TON): Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood has said that a boost in trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan will maximise the chances of regional economic integration and enhance connectivity among neighbouring countries.

“In recent trade dialogue, Pakistan and Afghanistan mainly focused on transit, bilateral and informal trade issues through the agenda of shared prosperity and peace,” Mr Dawood said during opening session of the 8th round of three-day Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) with Afghan Minister for Commerce and Industry Nisar Ahmad Faizi Ghoryani on Monday.

He said smooth transit trade for enhancing the connectivity with Central Asian states, connecting regional trade with Gwadar Port and finalisation of APTTA and Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Afghanistan in February 2021 were the main agenda of negotiations between the two countries.

“We have already allowed Afghanistan to use Gwadar for their transit trade as the same was demanded by Central Asian states to connect them with Gwadar Port in near future” the adviser said, adding that Pakistan had agreed to facilitate Afghan trade through Gwadar and Bin Qasim ports as a goodwill gesture to enhance economic ties with Afghanistan.

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Mr Dawood further said that he would lead a delegation next month for talks on the 9th round of APTTA with Afghanistan and all issues would be resolved through the common agenda of peace and prosperity.