KABUL
The inaugural session of the 9th Session of Pakistan- Afghanistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) was held in Kabul on Sunday.
The session was co-chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, and Afghan Finance Minister Dr Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal.
Addressing the session, Dar called for enhancing bilateral trade, extending the trilateral transit trade agreement to Tajikistan for the economic betterment of the people of the region, early completion of ongoing projects funded by Pakistan, visa facilitation for Pakistani businessmen and labour and urgent finalisation of avoidance of double taxation agreement between the two countries.
The minister said that Pakistan attached utmost significance to its relations with Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan had been playing an active role in the social and economic development of Afghanistan. In this regard, the government had undertaken a number of projects, including the 400- bed Jinnah Hospital in Kabul, 200-bed hospital in Logar, Liaquat Ali Khan Engineering University in Balkh, Rehman Baba School and hostel for 1,500 children in Kabul, Nishtar Kidney Hospital in Jalalabad and a dual carriageway from Torkham to Jalalabad.
Besides, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has increased the development fund from $385 million to $500 million as a gesture of goodwill to Afghanistan so as to complete the ongoing developmental projects. In order to encourage and improve bilateral trade and road connectivity, the Government of Pakistan has committed to construct Peshawar-Jalalabad Motorway as well as Peshawar-Jalalabad Railway link which would tremendously benefit the traders of Pakistan, Afghanistan as well as the Central Asian states, Dar added. The minister said that these steps were a manifestation of importance being attached by Pakistan towards the brotherly country.
The minister also highlighted the achievements made by the government led by Nawaz Sharif during the last eight months. He said that the government had developed a roadmap to overcome the security, economic and energy challenges being confronted by Pakistan. He said that Pakistan’s economy on average grew since 2008-2009. He stated that Pakistan had fixed a GDP growth target of 4-5 percent during the next financial year taking it to 6-7 percent in the medium term. He said that Pakistan had embarked upon a major reform programme that aimed at fiscal stabilization, mobilising domestic resources, phasing out subsides, restructuring the power sector and other public sector enterprises and strengthening the social safety nets.
Granting of GSP Plus status to Pakistan by the European Union was the manifestation of the trust over the socio-economic policies of Pakistan, he added.
Afghan Finance Minister Dr Hazrat Omar Zakhailwal underscored the need for enhanced trade and economic relations for the mutual benefits. He also praised Pakistan’s role and efforts in the reconstruction and rebuilding of Afghanistan.
After the opening remarks made by the respective ministers, the meeting approved the agenda of the 9th JEC. Thereafter technical experts from both the sides discussed issues threadbare under respective committees. The 9th JEC session will conclude on Monday (today) in Kabul.
Later, Dar along with his Afghan counterpart visited Jalalabad and handed over charge of Nangarhar Nishtar Kidney Hospital to the Afghan government. He also inaugurated work on the 75 km dual carriageway from Torkham to Jalalabad.
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