Afghanistan’s Necessity To Utilize Domestic Facilities And Alternative Trade Routes, Bypassing Pakistan – Analysis

Masom Jan Masomy

Source Link

According to recent reports, Pakistan has increased tariff taxes on Afghan fruits from 15,000 to 60,000 PKR per ton, an increase sixfold this time. Meanwhile, in another move, Pakistan has not allowed Afghanistan’s 300 trucks loaded with Afghan fruits and vegetables between Afghanistan-Pakistan ports due to the absence of a temporary permit to enter Pakistan, a document to be issued to Afghan drivers on time by Pakistani consulates based in Afghanistan.

The decision of the Pakistan government comes amid the export season, while watermelon, melon, grapes, pomegranates, and others got ripped in Afghanistan. This move has led to a halt in fresh fruit exports to Pakistani markets, bringing huge losses to Afghanistan’s farmers and traders and impacting Afghanistan’s economy badly.

However, Afghanistan and Pakistan signed the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) in 2010 to expand bilateral trade, provide facilities, and remove existing challenges and barriers between the two countries. Still, Pakistan is not entirely interested in helping address relevant issues with the Afghan side without creating problems and obstacles at transit and transport documents, customs, and tariff levels and closing crossing points against Afghan exports and imports each year.