A Pakistan delegation led by Secretary Commerce Muhammad Sualeh Ahmed Faruqui visited Kabul from 18-20 July 2022 to discuss mutual actions for enhancing bilateral, trade, transit and connectivity and take necessary trade facilitation measures with a view to address the practical problems/ impediments being faced by importers, exporters, traders and businessmen from both sides.

1. To make concrete progress on these matters, the Pakistan delegation included representatives from all relevant Ministries and departments relating to economic interaction, trade, transit, commercial exchanges and enhancing facilitation at all border crossing points.
2. The delegation held meetings with Ministers and senior officials of relevant Afghan Ministries including Acting Minister of Commerce Nooruddin Azizi, and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi.
3. In the substantive discussions, the two sides agreed on following positive outcomes/progress:
   1. During the current financial year bilateral trade and transit has registered growth. This momentum needs to be sustained and further strengthened on mutually beneficial basis.
   2. It was agreed to make border crossing points more efficient to ensure early clearance of trade and transit traffic and address the bottlenecks and impediments on priority basis.
   3. The two sides agreed to implement Temporary Admission Document (TAD) allowing free movement of bilateral trade vehicles and prevent loading and unloading of goods at the border crossing points with view to further increase trade between the two countries.
   4. The relevant authorities of the two sides also agreed to increase operational timings at all crossing points, particularly Torkham, Kharlachi, Ghulam Khan and Chaman/Spin Boldak.
   5. The heads of the Custom departments of the two countries agreed to work together and evolve mutually connected custom procedures and systems to improve efficiency in clearance of goods.
   6. Steps to be taken for starting luxury bus service between Peshawar & Jalalabad and Quetta & Kandahar making all possible efforts to commence the service from end of August this year.
   7. Difficulties in visa processing would be addressed through mutual coordination.
4. The two sides also reaffirmed to maintain regular coordination for implementing these understandings and further expand economic cooperation.
   Kabul

Kabul
20th July 2022