RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PAJCCI) Chairman Zubair Motiwala has suggested that Pak-Afghan trade, both bilateral and transit, needs rejuvenation and appropriate confidence building measures for removing deep-rooted mistrust in Pak-Afghan relationship. This mistrust is not only hampering political dialogue but also significantly impacting the economic ties between both the countries. He acknowledged Imran Khan for his strong belief in nourishing ties with neighboring countries, especially with Afghanistan to revive a push for peace and economic talks.

Motiwala urged the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to segregate business and trade ties from political and military tensions, and take strong security measures that are vital for stabilization and sustainability of both the countries without compromising the sentiments of the business community across the border.

He said economic challenges faced by Pakistan specifically in the context of regional trade and connectivity and streamlining economic friendly policies along with constant engagement with private sector stakeholders for effective implementation of the same should be the prime agenda of the recently appointed team for enhancing the overall trade quantum. Motiwala said at this time of deteriorating relationship and growing mistrust, the recent pledge of new prime minister can be termed as significantly instrumental in strengthening the historical ties between the two nations. Motiwala said Imran’s vision to ensure ease of doing business is highly commendable.

Historically, it has been proven that peace follows economic initiatives and noting otherwise, hence governments should allow economies to function freely and help politics rather than obstructing the free flow of healthy activities.

PAJCCI President Junaid Makda said Imran Khan’s acceptance of Ashraf Ghani’s invitation would be an important initiative for breaking the ice. Imran’s reciprocity will help revive and strengthen long-standing business ties between both the countries. He urged both the governments to keenly develop measures of a long-term vision for ensuring overall economic stability in the region. He urged the new government to facilitate the avenue for holding long pending APTTCA meetings to help resolve issues of the business community across the border.

The first meeting of APAPPS was held in Kabul recently and its framework provided a comprehensive and structured mechanism to enhance engagement between counterpart institutions.

PAJCCI Secretary General Faiza threw light on the working of the body and elaborated that the first meeting of economic working group was very stimulating and 12 most important action items were agreed upon, across the border.

PAJCCI was representing the private stakeholders across the border and raised most important issues. First is organizing long-pending APTTCA meeting followed by completion of pending projects and revival of confidence building by getting involved in joint business engagements across the border.

Moreover, PAJCCI during the first quarter of 2018, met all relevant stakeholders across the border and compiled the vast dimension of bilateral and transit issues along with proposed resolutions and developed a comprehensive policy advocacy document that was shared with the delegation and all relevant ministries across the border.

It is believed that this report can act as a fundamental support in incorporating strategic insight into economic deliberations pertinent to both sides and will facilitate the solution of major issues hampering the historical ties between the two brotherly nations.

Motiwala elaborated that PAJCCI, since its inception, has been making all relevant endeavors to improve and stabilize CBMs between the two countries and ensuring that business communities across the border attain mutual benefits in terms of trade, transit, security, peace and prosperity.

It is also part of all relevant forums such as APTTCA, JEC and recently formed APAPPS economic working group.

Hence, PAJCCI’s services as a bilateral entity, having its members in both the countries, to act as a joint platform to support the overarching objective of peace, prosperity and economic connectivity can be utilized for mutually beneficial policymaking and execution.

Chairman PAJCCI requested a call-on meeting with the prime minister and his team for deliberating upon important issues that require policy advocacy and for incorporating strategic insight to facilitate the solution of major issues hampering the historical ties between two brotherly states.