Senior Afghan politician appreciates Pakistan’s round-the-clock Torkham operations

Speaker of Afghanistan’s lower house of parliament Mir Rahman Rahmani (right) can be seen with Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Zahid Nasrullah Khan in Kabul on October 2, 2019. (Photo Courtesy: Pakistan Embassy, Kabul)

• Speaker of Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga showed his appreciation in a meeting with Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul
• Businessmen in Pakistan say the two countries should sign a free trade agreement

PESHAWAR: Speaker of Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga – or lower house of parliament – welcomed the decision of Pakistani authorities to keep the Pak-Afghan Torkham border crossing functional 24/7 while talking to Islamabad’s ambassador in Kabul, Zahid Nasrullah, on Wednesday.
According to a statement released by the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul, Speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani also expressed his desire to visit Pakistan with a parliamentary delegation soon.
The ambassador congratulated Rahmani on becoming the Speaker of the House and on the 4th Presidential Election in Afghanistan.
“The Speaker thanked Pakistan for opening of 24/7 services at Torkham crossing point,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said on September 18 while inaugurating the 24-hour Torkham border crossing service that the step would increase the quantum of trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Torkham is located along the 2,500 km international border that separates the two countries and serves as a major transportation and shipping site. According to an estimate, about 10,000 people cross the border point every day.
Faiz Muhammad, President of Peshawar’s Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Arab News that the administrations in Kabul and Islamabad should also explore measures to ease bilateral trade regime.
“Both countries need to liberalize bilateral trade and sign a free trade agreement,” he said. “Pakistan has done that with neighboring China.”
“The quantum of trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan is below $1 billion and it must be enhanced,” he added. “Currently, Afghanistan has levied additional duties on certain items which negatively impact Pakistan’s export.”