ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has observed an “unprecedented” increase in fruit imports from Afghanistan, Islamabad’s special representative for Afghanistan said on Saturday, a week after Pakistani authorities waived taxes on Afghan produce.
The tax waiver on fresh fruits from Afghanistan came into effect on Sept. 25.
“An unprecedented increase in the flow of fruit trucks from Afghanistan to Pakistan can be seen,” Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq said in a series of tweets, as he shared data from the Torkham crossing point.
He added at other land border crossings — Kharlachi, Chaman, Ghulam Khan, Angoor Adda — the increase has also been observed.
“Regional economics is an important principle for bilateral relations,” Sadiq said, as the Federal Board of Revenue’s move to waive import taxes was meant to stabilize trade relations that were disrupted by the volatile situation in Afghanistan since the August Taliban takeover and collapse of Afghanistan’s previous administration.
When the decision was announced last week, Sadiq said it was an indication that Pakistan’s foreign policy has “moved to a geo-economic emphasis” and that it “will significantly help Afghan traders and framers.”
The new Taliban government of Afghanistan welcomed the decision and called for more bilateral trade.
Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson of the Afghan foreign ministry, said in a statement the ministry “welcomes the action of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan” and called for “increased trade and transit between the two countries.”
