FPCCI welcomes decision for making Torkham Border operational

FPCCI welcomes decision for making Torkham Border operational

KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has expressed its approval of the government’s decision to make the Torkham Border operational around the clock.

FPCCI President Engr. Daroo Khan Achakzai commended the move, particularly acknowledging Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to implement 24/7 operations at Torkham within six months.

In a statement released on Tuesday, President Achakzai emphasized the importance of extending a similar operational facility to the Chaman Border in Balochistan. He urged the government to provide enhanced trade facilitation at both these crucial border crossings.

Highlighting the significance of people-to-people contact between Pakistan and Afghanistan, President Achakzai stressed the need to translate these interactions into robust economic and trade relations. He underscored that the livelihoods of businessmen operating around these border checkposts depend on trade, making it imperative to facilitate their activities for the benefit of the region and the countries involved.

President FPCCI reminded the government of a promise made by the Advisor to the Prime Minister for Commerce, Razak Dawood, regarding a separate policy for Afghan trade. He urged the swift announcement of this policy, believing it would significantly boost bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Additionally, President Achakzai called upon the government to explore the possibility of third-country transit trade to Central Asia, envisioning this as a crucial step in making Pakistan a major trade hub in the region, especially in the context of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Expressing hope that the government would prioritize trade facilitation at these border openings, President FPCCI believed that such measures would not only enhance bilateral and transit trade but also generate substantial economic activity and employment opportunities in the underdeveloped areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan.

President FPCCI commended the efforts of Arbab Shahzad, Advisor to the Prime Minister, for his role in enhancing trade with Pakistan and Afghanistan through the Torkham and Chaman borders. He urged the government to engage with the Afghan authorities to encourage similar trade facilitation on the Afghan side at Torkham and Chaman. This, he believed, would further strengthen economic ties and mutual cooperation between the two neighboring countries.