News - Business

Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industries on Sunday said that Pakistan Army will no longer create problems for Afghanistan bound containers.

The ACCI said that Pakistan's finance ministry has newly taken over all transit-related issues and that the army will no longer be involved.

It also said that during the recent visit of the Afghan President to Pakistan, officials in Islamabad have promised to provide more facilities to help Afghan traders transport merchandise through Pakistan soil into Afghanistan.

ACCI officials said 200 trucks of goods have been allowed to enter Afghanistan over the past two days.

It comes as Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industries had previously expressed frustration saying it was not sure if Pakistan would solve Afghan traders' trade problems.

Trucks containing Afghan-bound merchandise have been stopped in Pakistan for the last three months.

The ACCI urged the Afghan government to be serious in its stance towards Pakistan and keep pushing officials in Islamabad to prevent transit problems in the future.

"President Karzai has been very serious during his recent visit to Islamabad. We hope the President will always defend our national interests so seriously," Deputy Head of ACCI, Khan Jan Alokozay, said.

President Karzai during his recent visit to Pakistan stressed on Afghan economic growth and bilateral economic cooperation between the two nations.

In the trilateral summit of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan the three sides emphasised on cooperation in the rebuilding of Afghanistan including infrastructures, agriculture, mines and energy.