Businessmen and economists have stressed that it is time for Pakistan to see Afghanistan from a geo-economic angle.
“It is time to regain the lost share in the market of Afghanistan,” said Pakistan Businesses Forum (PBF) Vice President Ahmad Jawad.
“Pakistan must immediately resume trade with Afghanistan from Torkham and Chaman.” He added.
He pointed out that the volume of annual bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which was over $5 billion at one point in time, has fallen to just $1 billion.
He emphasised that Pakistan should normalise trade relation with Afghanistan, adding that it is time to eliminate food shortage and cash deficit in the neighbouring country.
“We should boost trade activities from traditional points between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” said Sustainable Development Policy Institute Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri.
“The US government has frozen Afghanistan accounts to deter the South Asian nation from entering into deals with other countries.” He continued
With the new government setup of the war-torn nation, Pakistan should deliberate on how it can extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Central Asia for the benefit of both countries, said Suleri.
Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) President Zulfikar Thaver also stressed that if Pakistan refuses to let go of the past, it will remain in a state of turmoil.
