Pakistan, Afghanistan discuss trade initiatives

“Besides these new initiatives, both the countries also agreed in Istanbul (Turkey) to materialise the 1,000MW CASA project whereby Afghanistan offered Pakistan to get an additional 150MW without any transit fee”, said the minister.

This he said while talking to Afghan Finance Minister Eklil Ahmad Hakimi in Islamabad, Radio Pakistan reported.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its brotherly relations with Afghanistan.

The source said Kabul may also insist on permission to Afghan trucks using Pakistan land route for trade with India.

Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at PM House here on Monday.

The Afghan minister said that both the sides agreed on a mechanism to remove the existing gaps in order to implement a shared vision envisaged during the last visit of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to Islamabad.

The mutual distrust that characterises Pak-Afghan relations cast its shadow on trade talks between the two countries on Monday as Islamabad refused to acquiesce to Kabul’s demands of allowing it throughway to New Delhi via the Wagah border.

He highlighted the need of facilitation for issuance of business visas for promotion of trade between the two countries.

Regarding the regional connectivity, both the sides agreed to expedite work for materializing the projects of Chaman-Spinboldak Rail Link, Peshawar-Jalalabad Rail link and construction of Road and Railway line between Miranshah and Khost. “We are very keen that our businessmen and your businessmen grow their businesses and sustain our relations”, added the minister.

He apprised the Afghan delegates about updates on a few of the projects being funded by Committee on Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Afghanistan (CRRA). The tentative completion date of the project is December, 2016.

About Chaman to Spinboldak rail link project, he stated that he will emphasise on relevant authorities of both sides for professional cooperation so that the construction of Chaman to Spinboldak section by Pakistani side may synchronise with construction of Kandahar to Spinboldak section by the Afghan side. Remaining students will be accommodated during fiscal year 2015-16.

Dar said that as a goodwill gesture, the government had settled the dues with Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Supply Corporation and the transporters for the supply of 50,000 tons of wheat.