Dawood to visit Afghanistan from 16th

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Advisor on Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood is to visit Afghanistan from November 16-18 to discuss prospects of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and a new draft of Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) which will expire in February next year.

On Tuesday, Secretary Commerce, Muhammad Suleh Faruqi informed the National Assembly Standing Committee that Pakistan delegation will also comprise of other stakeholders and representatives from the private sector, adding that a meeting of Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Coordination Authority (APTTCA) is scheduled to discuss issues related to transit trade.

The committee headed by Syed Naveed Qamar was briefed about the issues raised by Pakistan and Afghanistan at a recent Trade and Investment Forum of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

One of the special invitees tried to pressurise Member Customs, FBR, Tariq Huda to clear consignments of an importer, with the case already in the Supreme Court. However, Member Customs apprised the committee that he has held a meeting with the Attorney General for Pakistan to find out a way to resolve this issue, as the SC has already reserved its judgment. The meeting was informed that the issue will be sorted out in an inter-ministerial meeting within a few days.—MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN