Arsalan Yaqoob is a a corporate finance professional by profession and also passionate about transforming organisations and lives; he is dedicated, ambitious and goal-driven trainer with 8 years’ progressive experience in professional training of Business Analysis subjects (E pillars) of CIMA, BMS of ICAP, Strategic Business Leader (SBL) of ACCA. ......... Almighty ALLAH SWT has equipped him with professional certifications and academic qualification, in professional he is Professional Accounting Affiliate (PAA-ICAP), ACCA Member, PIPFA Member, and CIA (USA) Member and in academic he has completed post-graduation / 16 years of education from Karachi University. His accountancy career was started with big audit firm, first move to industry was with TRG (A high-tech US Based MNC conglomerate) group Companies (namely Digital Globe Services – DGS Group) listed on London Stock Exchange (AIM), at present he is working as a senior finance professional at leading organization in healthcare industry (Services & Pharma Manufacturing, both). ...... As a true transformational trainer his journey has been like a roller coaster from ICAP Inter-firm presentation skills competition to teaching ACCA Paper F4 at Hot FM105; he champed Chartered Accountants’ Students Association Conference 2012 as a lead presenter on Topic “Hope sustains life” – As a professional trainer he is loaded to connect Academia with Corporate Industry, his next big thing is to progress with his methodology and sharing the same in books and videos.

1. Pakistan-Afghan transit and
bilateral trade

2. Key Stakeholders
• The Director General Transit Trade, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)
• Director General Ports and Shipping (DG Ports & Shipping)
• Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PAJCCI)
• Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Pakistan
• Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan
• Chaman Chamber of Commerce, Afghanistan
• The Joint Secretary (FT-II), Ministry of Commerce
• Daroo Khan from Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PAJCCI)
• Jamal Uddin, President Chaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• National Highway Authority
• The NTTFC (National Trade & Transport Facilitation Project/ Committee) and WTO Wing
• National Logistics Cell (NLC)

3. Issues Impact on Businesses & their Solutions
• Rationalization of the
bonded carrier service
charges
• Waiver of demurrage
charges at Karachi
port
• Fix clearance time
limit for consignments
The FBR's Director General Transit Trade and Director General Ports and Shipping
may arrange a meeting with SAPT, KIPT and KICT for discussing waiver of
demurrage charges at Karachi as requested by Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint
Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PAJCCI)
The FBR's Director General Transit Trade informed that two tracker
operators have been allowed to fix trackers on the bonded carriers and 34
operators have been given license. The Secretary Commerce directed the
DG Transit Trade to reduce these costs and customs authorities should try
to do away work with the brokers and bonded carriers and transshipment
should be separated.
The NTTFC and WTO Wing should expedite the work on pending TIR
issues to operationalize it as TIR rules have already been notified by FBR.
It was decided that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs must expedite the
pending legislative bills and Ministry of Commerce must expedite
activating the Afghan Transit Trade Liaison Office at Chaman.

4. • Afghan Transit Trade through Iran, reaching the value of US $2.9
billion in 2016-17
Summary of Facts
• PAJCCI
Border was closed eight times during last
year
Five security layers for Afghan transit cargo
& random checking of containers (which
causes delays)

5. • Afghanistan’s total reported exports are currently equivalent to only 5
percent of total imports, with exports amounting to $363.70 million
in FY13.
• Pakistan is the largest export destination, accounting for 32.2 percent
of all Afghan exports; even without direct transit access, India forms
the second-largest destination for Afghan exports, at 27 percent of
the total.
Summary of Facts

6. Summary of Facts
• Pakistan is Afghanistan’s largest trading partner, while Afghanistan is Pakistan’s second
largest export market.
• Both Pakistan and Afghanistan face significant challenges in their respective security,
political, and economic realms over the coming years. The drawdown of NATO forces
from Afghanistan has dealt a negative shock to both economies, particularly in the
transportation sector.
• While an agreement was signed in 2010 to strengthen trade relations and facilitate
Afghan transit trade through Pakistan, implementation has been mixed, with many on
both sides of the border complaining of continued barriers to exchange.
• Peaceful economic cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan and improved trade
and transit facilities could help connect South Asia with Central Asia.
• Both nations need to improve trade facilitation through streamlined payments
settlement and improved insurance mechanisms, use of bonded carriers, visa issuance,
trade financing, tax collection, and documentation.

7. External Environmental Issues
• Smuggling and Spillover - vehicles, cigarettes, and electronic items,
evading the imposition of customs duties.
• Trade Controls - Formal banking ties between Afghanistan and
Pakistan remain limited, with inconsistent exchange rates. There is a
need to establish joint computerized customs and clearing points.
• Removal of Shipping Restrictions – In 2015, it was also agreed that
Afghan trucks bound for India would be allowed to reach the Wagah
border crossing, and on their way back would be allowed to carry
Pakistani exports to Afghanistan, Could be beneficial for Truck
companies in Afghanistan.

8. SOLUTIONS
• People-to-people contact is a necessary condition for sustainable trade relations;
therefore, business visa policy needs to be relaxed further. Various options, such
as visa-on-arrival, long-term, multiple-entry visas, and investment-friendly visas
for businessmen and skilled workers, could be explored and implemented in
letter and spirit.
• A preferential trade agreement between the two countries that would give more
market access to Afghan goods in the Pakistani market and address the issue of
smuggling is the need of the day. This agreement should include a clear roadmap
for tariff rationalization in the region and the removal of double taxation to
facilitate investment in both countries.
• As part of this agreement, both sides should commit to support the transit of
Pakistani exports through Afghanistan to Central Asia, and similarly the transit of
Afghan exports through Pakistan to India.
• Nontariff measures also need to be improved, mainly at the customs checkpoints
on both sides of the border.

9. SOLUTIONS
• The importance of modern infrastructure, including roads and the
railway network, to trade relations cannot be overemphasized. Both
countries should prioritize infrastructure projects to reduce the cost
of transportation. It is important to mention here that the China-
Pakistan Economic Corridor will be instrumental in the development
of trade from Central Asia to South Asian countries.
• The provision of a financial mechanism for trade is mandatory.
Instituting an EXIM bank for trade settlements in multiple currencies
is recommended, as is an institutional arrangement for freight
insurance and similar costs