Daily Times

All Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Exporters Association has demanded of government to announce incentives over exporting of goods to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs) in Pak rupees along with establishing a legal channel to avoid complications and inquiries by law enforcing agencies in receiving payments.

The demand was made at a meeting held at Landikotal city of Khyber District with President KP Exporters Association, Haji Jabir in the chair.

Others who attended the meeting included Coordinator Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, Director PAJCCI, Imtiaz Ahmad Ali, General Secretary KP Exporters, Ashfaq Shinwari, SVP Haji Nisar Shinwari, VP Mujeeb Shinwari, Secretary Legal Affairs, Amir Afridi and others.

The participants of the meeting also demanded to convert trade of 16 items from PKR to US dollars because State Bank of Pakistan has well established set up for payment of rebate in US dollars and not in Pak rupees. They were of the view that exporters are exporting these16 items to Afghanistan and Central Asia in Pak currency and they are not given any rebate over this.

Along with this they also expressed grave concern over legal complications in receiving export proceeds declared in PKR at the time of custom clearance.

In export through US dollar, government pays a rebate and the same practice should be adopted in export through PKR, they reiterated. In the shape of rebate, government should refund general sales tax paid by exporter while purchasing goods for sending abroad, they suggested.

President KP Exporters Association, Haji Jabir claimed that during last few years, the country has received remittance through export to Afghanistan to the tune of US dollars two billions, a significant contribution to country’s foreign reserves by commercial exporters of only the KP region.

He said the business community will also meet high officials in Ministry for Commerce and Industry for discussion over problems being faced in export of goods through PKR.

The banks are also creating hindrances by seeking different documents over clearance of payments on export to Central Asian Republics through Taftan border of Baluchistan, a legally established custom port, Haji Jabir added.

He also stressed upon State Bank of Pakistan to take notice and issue directives to commercial banks for facilitation of business community dealing in export to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics.

In response to a question, Haji Jabbir Shinwari informed that goods exported to Afghanistan and CAR include rice, fresh fruit, seeds, maize, poultry feed, vegetables etc.

Speaking on the occasion, Coordinator PAJCCI, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi laid stress on increased coordination between government officials and business community for removal of obstacles in regional trade on early basis.

He appreciated the efforts made by Haji Jabbir in arranging a get together of business community for holding discussion on different issues and for presenting suggestion to improve country’s export at regional level.

He said increasing trade volume is need of the hour for creating livelihood opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people in the country.

In prevailing scenario of economic stress and shrinking earning opportunities, government is needed to give serious consideration to increasing regional trade with special focus on Pak-Afghan bilateral trade to create job opportunities for people along with increase in country’s foreign reserves.