Authorities urged to abolish illegal taxes to enhance Pak-Afghan trade

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PESHAWAR, Dec 19 (APP): Fruits traders and exporters have urged Pakistan and Afghanistan authorities to abolish illegal and excessive duties to give further boost to mutual trade between the two neighbouring countries.

The demand was made during a meeting between Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President, Engr Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz and All Pakistan Agriculture Produce Traders Federation (APAPTF) Central President Malik Sohni here at the chamber house on Thursday.

SCCI Senior Vice president, Shahid Hussain, Peshawar Fruits Traders Association president Haji Ailaf Khan, fruits traders and exporters, Noorani Khan, Hazrat Rehman, Khawani Khan, Nasir Khan and Moin Afghan were present in the meeting.

The traders described the higher regulatory duties, delay in the issuance of visas and lack of facilities on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border as the major hurdle to the further enhancement of bilateral trade and urged Islamabad and Kabul to remove trust deficit to improve the trade.

Engr Maqsood Pervaiz while speaking on the occasion urged the both Pakistan and Afghanistan governments to bring easiness and flexibility in their policies, besides they should take measures to facilitate business community on both side of the border so it will help to give further boost to bilateral trade between the two neighbouring countries.

SCCI chief noted that the mutual trade ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have substantially decreased due to high regulatory and tariffs as well as lack of facilities at both side of the border.

Engr Maqsood Pervaiz called upon Islamabad and Kabul to take joint steps to remove obstacles in way of mutual trade. He demanded for timely issuance of visas to business community.

Malik Sohni told the meeting that the collection of millions of rupees on head of different taxes from fruits and vegetable traders by authorities concerned have badly affected the mutual trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He said both Islamabad and Kabul should decrease taxes, which are being collection on head of import, export, transit and others, besides they should also bring flexibilies in policies. Otherwise, he said traders and exporters will complete suspend trade with Afghanistan if the heavy taxes were not withdrawn immediately.

Fruits traders and exporters, Noorani Khan, Hazrat Rehman, Khawani Khan, Nasir Khan and Moin Afghan on the occasion complained for charging of heavy taxes by both Pakistan and Afghan authorities.

 

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