Afghanistan–Pakistan Joint Committee Formed to Resolve Trade Challenges

DID Press: Afghanistan and Pakistan chambers of commerce have agreed to establish a 12-member joint committee aimed at addressing trade barriers and reopening ports to resume bilateral trade.

Aiming to resolve trade-related issues and facilitating the flow of imports and exports between the two countries, Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment and the Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry decided to form the joint committee. The decision was made during the second online meeting between the two chambers.

During the meeting, officials from both sides emphasized the importance of reopening ports and easing trade procedures. In this regard, head of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce said the closure of ports not only harms trade between the two countries but also has a negative impact on the regional economy. He further called for closer cooperation between the chambers of commerce to resolve these issues.

The head of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry also referred to the suspension of Afghanistan commercial shipments and announced that the issue has been resolved, allowing containers carrying Afghanistan goods to enter Pakistan.

This step could quickly restore the flow of trade between the two countries, he added.

The 12-member joint committee is expected to begin its meetings soon and, as a first step, will develop plans to resume trade and address existing challenges. Additionally, a joint meeting is scheduled to be held next week in Jalalabad, where both sides will review the outcomes of this cooperation and propose solutions to improve the overall trade situation.