ISLAMABAD -Federal Minister for Commerce Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan has said that government wants trade to stay open for seven days a week at the Pak-China border and the current closure of border on Saturdays and Sundays is not beneficial for trade promotion.
He made these remarks while talking to a delegation of Gilgit Baltistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, which called on the Minister to express their concerns over border management at the Pak-China border.
The Minister was informed that according to the understanding between Pakistan and China the Sust Post at the Pak-China border stays closed for four months every year in addition to public holidays of both countries, which includes Saturdays and Sundays. This, according to them, is hampering the free flow of trading vehicles and long queues of trucks are seen at the border every weekend. The closure of border at the end of every week puts a substantial burden on the traders as it results in enhancing the freight costs. They demanded that the closure of border crossings on weekends is unjustified which results in retardation of trade and discourages the traders to take further commercial pursuits.
Dastgir said that trade facilitation is the prime responsibility of Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and whenever and wherever an issue emerges which obstructs the free flow of trade, MoC will swiftly respond to remove that hurdle. Talking about the specific issue of closure of border on weekends the Minister apprised the meeting that concerns were already communicated to the Advisor Ministry of Finance and on the directions of the Advisor, the issue is put on the agenda of next Councilors meeting scheduled to be held on 10th June. There is great hope that the outcome of that meeting will bring respite to the traders, he said.