Balance of trade between Afghanistan, Pakistan reaches $1.5b

Balance of trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan has reached one and a half billion US dollars.This was revealed by Khanjan Alekozai deputy chairman of the chambers of commerce and industries of Afghanistan and deputy head of joint chambers of Afghanistan and Pakistan in a joint meeting of the Afghan and Pakistan traders held in Kabul, reported BNA news agency.The aim of the meeting was to seek ways for overcoming the problems of traders’ further expansion of trade and economic relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.At the start of the meeting Khanjan Alekozai deputy chairman of the chambers of commerce and industries of Afghanistan and deputy head of joint chambers of Afghanistan and Pakistan said that the balance of trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan reaches one and half billion US dollars, the major portion of which is import of Pakistan goods to Afghanistan and Afghanistan’s exports makes around USD 200 million.Zabeer Motiwal head of the delegation and chairman of the chambers of commerce of Pakistan talked of the trade facilities for foreign investments in Afghanistan and added that the Pakistan traders and investors are prepared to jointly and individually invest in Afghanistan.He added that the present problems in trade sphere can be resolved by the government authorities.Muzamel Shinwari deputy minister for trade of the commerce and industries said that the ministry of commerce and industries supports the activities of joint chambers of commerce of Afghanistan and Pakistan and is prepared to solve the problems of the traders with the government authorities of the two countries.At the end of the meeting the 35-member Pakistan delegation were divided in several parts and discussed with the Afghan traders about trade in carpets spheres, pharmaceutical, fresh and dry fruits, precious and semi-precious stones, construction materials, food and marble stone.