Business

Pakistan failed to fulfill 70 commitments for transit relations with Afghanistan

Published

11 years ago

January 27, 2015

Last Updated on: October 25, 2022

Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Pakistan has failed to fulfill its 70 commitments to improve the trade and transit relations with Afghanistan.

Officials in Chamber of Commerce and Industry warned that after this there will be the same reaction against Pakistan’s every action.

They said the government should realize another option instead of Pakistan that India can be a good substitute.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s findings indicates that Islamabad had committed to fulfill 25 commitments in President Ghani’s last trip to Pakistan. But while three months passed since Ghani’s trip only 2 of Pakistan’s commitments fulfilled to improve the transit and trade relations with Afghanistan.

Deputy of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Khan Jan Alkozai said, “We demand the national unity government to not sign the tripartite agreement with Pakistan and Tajikistan.”

Ministry of commerce and Industry also urges Pakistan to fulfill all commitments given in Ghani’s trip to Islamabad.

“Afghanistan has always stood on its commitments, but Pakistan has only been committed on paper,” Mutasel Komaki, deputy of ministry of commerce said.

Meanwhile, a number of Afghan analysts are said to believe that Pakistan has never been committed to improve political and trade relations with Afghanistan and President Ghani should take a serious action.

In President Ghani’s trip to Pakistan a delegation, led by the Acting Minister of Commerce and Industries, pushed for the implementation of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade and Transit Agreement (APTTA).

Both being neighboring states, relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan began in August 1947 after Pakistan became independent.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have been described by former Afghan President Hamid Karzai as “inseparable brothers”.

Business

Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan calls for reopening of Durand Line crossings

Published

2 days ago

May 25, 2026

Ariana News

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, chief of Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan political party, has called for the immediate reopening of crossings along the disputed Durand Line and the regularisation of trade with Iran, warning that prolonged border restrictions are worsening economic hardship for communities on both sides.

Speaking at a public gathering in Zhob, in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, Rehman said restoring cross-border trade was essential for reviving Pakistan’s struggling economy and reducing pressure on ordinary citizens already grappling with inflation and unemployment.

He proposed the formation of a joint committee made up of tribal elders, business leaders and local representatives to help restore trade, resolve disputes and maintain stability along the border region.

Rehman also called for the establishment of special trade zones along the Durand Line to facilitate legal commerce and create employment opportunities in areas heavily dependent on cross-frontier movement.

The Jamaat-e-Islami leader criticised current management policies, alleging that crossings were being opened selectively for the benefit of a small group of traders while thousands of transport workers, merchants and families continued to suffer financially from the closures.

Major crossings along the Durand Line have remained largely shut since October 11 following intense clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces and Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan that reportedly killed dozens of people on both sides.

The violence sharply escalated already strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan-based militants of carrying out cross-border attacks, claims the Afghan authorities have repeatedly denied.

The prolonged restrictions have severely disrupted trade and travel between the two countries, particularly affecting frontier provinces where local economies rely heavily on the movement of goods, fuel and agricultural products.

Traders and transport unions in both Afghanistan and Pakistan have repeatedly warned that continued closures are causing heavy financial losses and worsening shortages in some areas.

Business

Major pharma firms eye investment in Afghanistan

Published

3 days ago

May 24, 2026

Ariana News

Last Updated on: May 25, 2026

Several major international pharmaceutical companies could invest in medicine production in Afghanistan as part of growing cooperation between UN agencies and Afghan authorities, who hope to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

The development was highlighted during a meeting between Afghanistan’s Minister of Economy, Din Mohammad Hanif, and UNICEF Representative Tajudeen Oyewale, where discussions focused heavily on improving healthcare access and expanding pharmaceutical capacity.

UNICEF officials indicated that several global drug manufacturers are preparing to coordinate with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health on establishing or supporting local medicine production.

The aim is to improve the availability of essential medicines for humanitarian operations while also strengthening supply in domestic markets.

The proposed investments are expected to reduce Afghanistan’s reliance on imported pharmaceuticals and improve access to essential treatments, particularly in areas affected by economic hardship and ongoing humanitarian needs.

Alongside the pharmaceutical plans, UNICEF reaffirmed its continued commitment to humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, including programmes addressing food insecurity, climate-related pressures, and support for returning migrants.

According to figures discussed in the meeting, $520 million has been requested from international donors to support returnees. Of this, $100 million is allocated for emergency assistance, while $420 million is intended for longer-term resettlement and reintegration support.

Afghan authorities welcomed the prospect of expanded pharmaceutical investment, with Din Mohammad Hanif stressing the importance of development cooperation, job creation, and increased international engagement to support economic stability.

Officials said strengthening the pharmaceutical sector could become a key pillar in Afghanistan’s broader efforts to improve healthcare resilience and move toward greater self-sufficiency in essential medical supplies.

Business

Kazakhstan reports 2.3-fold rise in grain exports to Afghanistan

Published

4 days ago

May 23, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan has sharply increased imports of grain from Kazakhstan, with deliveries rising 2.3-fold between September 2025 and May 20, 2026, according to Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Ministry.

During that period, Kazakhstan exported around 3 million tons of grain to Afghanistan, compared to 1.3 million tons in the same period a year earlier.

The increase comes as Afghanistan’s Finance Ministry said this week that wheat imports into the country have risen by 345% following changes in customs tariffs aimed at supporting domestic production. According to the ministry, tariffs on imported wheat flour were gradually increased from 5% to 8%, while duties on wheat imports were reduced to encourage local flour processing.

Officials said nearly 198,000 tons of wheat were imported during the first two months of the 1405 fiscal year, compared to 44,000 tons during the same period last year. The ministry added that the policy has helped expand operations at domestic flour factories, increase local production, and create more job opportunities.