ISLAMABAD: Chairman China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Asim Saleem Bajwa has said the government had approved establishment of 18 border markets to formalize trade with neighboring countries and check smuggling.

In a tweet on Tuesday, he said under a pilot project, two border markets would be established in Balochistan and one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said it would transform the local economies.

Asim Saleem Bajwa said the focus of Prime Minister Imran Khan was on the neglected areas.

Integrate Remote areas:PM emphasised focus on earlier neglected areas.Out of approved 18, 3 border markets approved as pilot project;Mand&Gabd in Balochistan&ShaheedanoDan in KP,Will transform local economies,check smuggling&formalise trade with neighbours #PakistanMovingForward pic.twitter.com/24NqPJ8Uyg

— Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimSBajwa) September 22, 2020

On Sept 16, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan inaugurated the trade terminal at Badini on the Pak-Afghan border.

Following the installation of the fence on the Pak-Afghan border, a trading terminal had been set up at Badini in Qila Saifullah.