LAHORE: SAARC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) president-
designate Iftikhar Ali Malik Monday welcoming the signing of the historic US-Taliban peace
agreement termed it not only an important step in achieving a lasting political settlement in
Afghanistan but will also contribute to achieving stability and prosperity in the region and the
world
In his statement issued here today, he that Pakistan has been playing role for peace in the
region and across the world and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s narrative of peaceful solution to
Afghan conflict has won laurels.
He also called for the promotion of strong cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He
also urged the top leadership of either countries to remove non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and
other obstacles to trade.
Iftikhar Ali Malik said that Pakistan’s private sector always attached great importance to trade
with Afghanistan and remained willing to promote trade relations through lawful channels. “If
proposed energy connectivity projects, such as the CASA-1000 transmission line and the TAPI
gas pipeline, are executed, they will usher an era of development, progress and economic
benefits to both countries,” he added
He said Afghanistan and Pakistan had a long tradition of interactions, as they were good trading
partners. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, as part of the wider Belt and Road Initiative,
would be extended to Central Asia via Afghanistan, he said. “If we look at the CPEC, it has four
main components: Transit and trade, infrastructure, energy cooperation and economic
integration. Afghanistan can be helpful from all these components.”
