The Advisor to the Prime Minister on Commerce & Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood, and the Minister of Industry & Commerce, Nisar Ahmad Ghoriyani, signed the Protocol for a six-month extension of the Afghanistan–Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement 2010 (APTTA).
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The signing ceremony was held via video link on 8 July 2021 simultaneously at Kabul and Islamabad. The Ministry of Commerce Secretary was also present and the representatives of both the embassies in the capital cities attended it as well.
Speaking on the occasion, Dawood said that his vision for trade and economic relations with Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs) makes Pakistan a hub for trade, transit, and transshipment.
“Our trade must be based on secure, open, consistent, reliable & legal movement of goods at the Afghan border along with enhanced connectivity with Afghanistan & CARs,” he said.
He explained that this is a long-term vision and that Pakistan is laying the foundation for its implementation through its current engagement with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. This will ensure that Pakistan leverages its geo-economic location in the region to enhance its international trade.
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He added, “Our discussions with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan are a step in this direction”.
Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the extension of the agreement and decided that their technical teams would conclude the revised agreement soon.
