PESHAWAR: Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) has expressed the hope that the fencing of the border will help strengthen economies of both the countries.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, PAJCCI senior vice president Ziaul Haq Sarhadi said that the government had initiated fencing the border in order to stop illegal entry of people which would also help control smuggling from both the sides.

He expressed the hope that the decision regarding reopening of border points at Karlachi and Ghulam Khan was commendable as the step would promote cross-border trade through legal channels.

Mr Sarhadi said that it was time Islamabad and Kabul took serious steps for improving bilateral trade and restoring durable peace in the region.

He said that the business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had heavily suffered due to militancy during the past decade and it direly needed favour of the federal government.

The government, he said should facilitate the exporters and importers and frame tax policies in consultation with the business community to avoid misunderstandings and complications in future.

He also expressed the hope that the new FBR chairman would also pay attention to the problems facing the business community in that regard.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2017