Daily Times

Pakistan has reduced taxes on imports from Afghanistan as border officials of both countries agreed to enhance bilateral trade via the Torkham border.

According to the source, measures are being taken to ease imports from the neighboring country while the authorities approved the extension of the Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement 2010 for six months to boost trade ties with the neighbor.

However, both sides discussed all the issues confronted by the local traders and transporters in the clearance of goods at the border, and also shared suggestions for the prompt removal of bottlenecks in the clearance of goods.

Officials of Frontier Corps, National Logistics Cell, Federal Investigation Agency, State Bank of Pakistan, Khyber and Sarhad chambers, local traders, and customs clearing agents attended a meeting at the customs compound to discuss the development.

On the other hand, head of Afghan customs Abdul Hameed and other border officials participated in the meeting.

Meanwhile, officials also agreed on increasing the number of electronic scanners to expedite the scanning process and reduce chances of delay in customs clearance to overcome traffic congestion at the border crossing.