KARACHI: Afghan trade delegation led by Adviser Washma Frogh visited FPCCI and discussed in depth the declining volume of bilateral trade between the two brotherly countries including various trade barriers, bottlenecks hampering bilateral trade that has sunk to $1.5 million in 2015 and going down further in 2016. She stressed that it requires serious attention to stop a further decline. The Afghan delegation also expressed deep concern over the delays in clearance of Afghanistan bound goods and desired to move on to a fast track basis. Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig former advisor to the Prime Minister speaking on the occasion assured that the FPCCI will take up this matter at the highest level and do our best to remove the bottlenecks and improve the existing bilateral trade relation and expeditious clearance of Afghanistan bound goods. He further proposed to ensure that sub-standard goods don’t find their way in Afghanistan and to maintain quality of products from Pakistan pre-shipment inspection of goods may be made mandatory. Mirza Ishtiaq Baig, Vice President, FPCCI speaking on the occasion said that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan is showing a positive trend and efforts will be made to further improve it and shall focus more on Afghan Transit Trade, focusing on Road, Railways, Energy Products, Regional Economic Integration and Economic Co-operation. He further added that the FPCCI and its counterpart ACCI are the active members of SAARC CCI, ECO CCI and Islamic CCI and next years President-ship of ECO CCI will be handed over to Afghanistan, therefore suggested that the next ECO CCI may be hosted in Afghanistan. It will afford us an opportunity to explore the potential of member countries.