ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday expressed Pakistan’s commitment to facilitate transit trade of Afghanistan.

Chairing a meeting to review issues related to Pak-Afghan Transit Trade in Islamabad, the prime minister directed to ensure that the arrangement was not misused and did not hamper the growth of Pakistani industry.

Reiterating that the growth of industry and boosting exports were the key priorities for the present government, Imran Khan underscored the need for streamlining Pak-Afghan Transit Trade arrangement, in coordination with Afghan authorities, so as to create a mutually beneficial situation for the two countries and the region.

He also underlined the need for employing technology to preclude misuse of the arrangement by vested interests.

Also Read: Imran Khan reiterates Pakistan’s support to Afghan peace process

Imran Khan directed the Ministry of Commerce to present a comprehensive plan, within three days, to ensure that a transparent corruption free arrangement capable of serving the intended purpose was put in place.

He was briefed on the existing set-up under the Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement and various issues being encountered at operational level.

On Oct 28, PM Khan had reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast and sincere support to the Afghan peace and reconciliation process.

He was talking to US Special Representative to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad who called on him in Islamabad.

The prime minister had also underlined the need to overcome difficulties in this regard so that an enduring political solution to Afghan conflict could be achieved at the earliest.

Imran Khan had stressed that it was important for all sides to take practical steps for checking violence in Afghanistan.

On Oct 3, Pakistan and Afghan Taliban had agreed on the need for earliest resumption of the Afghan peace process.

The understanding had come at a meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and a delegation of the Taliban Political Commission (TPC) from Doha led by its head Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar, in Islamabad. The delegation included senior members of the TPC.