PESHAWAR:
Pakistan Customs is prepared to launch the Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade Portal (APTP) mobile application which will include Persian and Pashto language features. A meeting between officials from both sides decided that the app will link Afghan traders and businesses with their Pakistani counterparts who have been vetted as legitimate businesses and verified by Federal Board of Revenue.
The app will also provide updated Afghanistan-Pakistan trade data sourced from the State bank of Pakistan (SBP) website. The mechanism will also provide relevant tariff and trade data from Afghanistan customs which is not publicly available.
Customs delegation was headed by Arbab Qaiser AC Model Customs collectorate Peshawar. The meeting was also attended by DD Customs Transit Station Torkham, Inam Wazir, AD of Transit Trade Peshawar Jahan Bahadur and APTP Research Assistant Arsalan Ahmed Raja.
The discussion focused on current opportunities and future coordination on data and knowledge sharing, advocacy and strategic communication to highlight positive developments and new custom regulations, facilitating trade between the two countries.
The establishment of APTP mobile app will improve ease of doing business and will attract new investors and businesses.The Persian and Pashto language features on the APTP app will help vendors and businesses understand procedures and regulations on both sides of the Pak-Afghan borders.