Islamabad: A Pakistani official’s delegation will embark on a two-day official visit to Afghanistan today (Monday) to discuss matters related to trade.
“Secretary Commerce Khurrum Agha will undertake a 2-day visit to Afghanistan on Monday, 25 March 2024 to discuss trade related matters,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch said in a statement on X. She added that Pakistan remains committed to promoting trade and people-to-people ties with Afghanistan.
The development comes amid strained ties between the two countries over the use of Afghan soil by terrorist outfits including the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Last year in October, Pakistan enhanced stringent conditions on Afghan Transit Trade (ATT).
Under the new conditions, 25 per cent of consignments will be selected for scanning and a minimum of 10 per cent for examination by the Risk Management System (RMS).
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had also imposed new conditions of bank guarantees equal to duties and taxes of the consignment to ensure Afghanistan-bound goods reach their final destination.
