Transportation of fruits from Pakistan to Russia hailed

PESHAWAR: Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) has hailed transportation of fruits from Pakistan to Russia through centuries-old road link road.

“The news about sending of citrus in 16 trucks of national logistic cell (NLC) from Pakistan to Russia is very good omen for businessmen of the country which will open new vistas of trade and commerce in the region,” said Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, coordinator PAJCCI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a press statement issued here on Wednesday, Ziaul Haq Sarhadi said the trade route had great potential, which, if tapped, would prove very valuable for the country from a commerce point of view and would create hundreds of thousands of livelihood opportunities in the whole region.

Ziaul Haq informed that these 16 trucks of NLC carried citrus from Sargodha district in Punjab and reached Russia while passing through three different countries, covering around 6000 kilometer distance.

“Such initiatives need continuation and apart from fruit, other items could also be sent to Russia by facilitating the business community of the country,” he added.He said Pak-Afghan trade was on decline during the last several months due to different hurdles including a demand for visa for driver and helper of trucks carrying goods.

Zia said the government should take measures for removing all the hurdles in Pak-Afghan trade and provide facilities for expanding this commercial dealing to CARs and Russia.“The recent transportation of fruit consignment to Russia is a testimony to the fact that we can utilize this potential market by providing ease of doing business to traders,” he added.

He said he had also presented a suggestion of issuing special passes after security clearance from concerned departments to truck drivers, allowing them to carry goods between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Obtaining visas for drivers and cleaners and renewing after a few months expiry is a very cumbersome procedure while keeping in view rush at passport offices in the country.

Zia said promotion of commerce and trade was the need of the hour while keeping in view high prices and economic recession in the country.He stressed upon the Ministry of Commerce to hold consultation with the business community for promotion of trade with Afghanistan, CARs and newly tapped Russian markets.