Reports show an increase of 2.35% in Pakistan’s exports of goods and services to Afghanistan. According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the total exports to Afghanistan reaches up to $828.727 as of July-April (2020-21). On the other hand, last year’s overall exports were at $809.685 which indicate an increase of 2.35%.
Additionally, Pakistan also had a growth of 6.54 per cent in comparison to other countries; starting from $19.703 billion to $20.992 billion, SBP reported. Meanwhile, the imports from Afghanistan show an increase of 27.34 per cent in the same calendar year; from $147.403 million to $115.747 million.
What does this report mean to Pak-Afghan relations?
The two countries are the biggest trade partners according to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). However, month-on-month basis exports to Afghanistan show a decline of 26.26% in 2021, due to Covid-19 outspread. However, Pakistan and Afghanistan have managed to keep an overall balanced transit trade during the pandemic.
Moreover, Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga Speaker, Mir Rahman Rahmani along with 17 Parliament members in a six-day trip to Pakistan are expected to attend the 2nd General Conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of Economic Cooperation Organization (PAECO). The theme of the conference will be “Promoting Parliamentary Partnership for Regional Integration”. The speakers and delegations from Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) member legislatures will also attend the 3-day long event. The two country’s delegations will further discuss bilateral cooperation and integration. Along with this, they will discuss initiatives to further promote Pak-Afghan economic relations and trade ties.
