Independent Report
QUETTA: The Chairman Pashtoonkhaw Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Mehmood Khan Achakzai has alleged that Pashto speaking people are being bothered under the garb of operation against Afghan refugees all over the country, and added that the treatment being meted out with them (refugees) would cast negative impact on the Pak-Afghan relations.
The Chairman PkMAP underlined the need to prepare a joint strategy with Afghan authorities for prevention of smuggling in the country.
He was addressing a crowded press conference at the Quetta Press club on Sunday afternoon.
He was flanked by the PkMAPs senior leaders including Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, Abdul Qahar Wadhan, Syed Liaquat Agha and others.
Mehmood Khan Achakzai referred to the crackdown against the illegal immigrants, and said that arrests of refugees were never made in such a large number in history of the world.
He said that our country is facing immense hardships and under the given circumstances, it is not good to have confrontation with the neighbouring countries.
He said that except PML-N central leader, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, all political leaders are giving statements against the neighbouring countries.
He said that besides the brotherly relations, we also have trade relations with Afghanistan, and according to the traders, trade volume with Afghanistan is around US$ 14 million. He said that the trade with Afghanistan can be increased to US$ 2 billion.
He recalled that the Afghan transit trade agreement had been signed in 2010.
However, the government imposed ban on import of different items on October 3, and due to the ban, 3,000 containers are standing at the Karachi port, he noted with concern.
He stressed that the government should inform the traders couple of months before imposing ban on the imports.
The Chairman PkMAP said that we need to increase trade with Afghanistan instead of the confrontation.
He suggested that more points can be established in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhaw for promoting trade between the two countries.
He was of the strong view that the economy of country would be improved by promoting trade and ultimately, people would get livelihood.
He said that in the country’s current economic situation, every single rupee is necessary.
The Chairman PkMAP on the occasion also called for holding roundtable conference to ponder upon how to steer the country out of prevailing situation.
He stressed that there should be supremacy of constitution in the country.
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