Great scope to boost trade with Afghanistan to USD 5 bn:Sharif

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said Pakistan and Afghanistan should work "strenuously" to meet the trade target of USD 5 billion by 2018 as there is great scope for increasing bilateral trade.
Sharif said Pakistan would extend all possible support to Afghanistan and accomplish all infrastructure development and energy sector projects to consolidate long term bilateral and regional partnership.
"Both sides should work strenuously to meet the trade volume target of USD 5 billion till 2018," Sharif said while talking to Afghanistan's Minister of Finance Eklil Ahmad Hakimi who called on him along with a ministerial delegation, currently visiting Pakistan for the 10th Session of Pak-Afghanistan Joint Economic Commission.

Expressing satisfaction over resumption of work by Pakistani side on incomplete projects in Afghanistan's health, education and other sectors, Sharif said Pakistan attached great importance to its brotherly relations with Afghanistan.
He also said as part of its vision for "Peaceful and Prosperous" neighborhood, Pakistan is ready to help Afghanistan in its quest for peace and development.
"Pakistan believes that a peaceful, prosperous and progressive Afghanistan is in the best interest of Pakistan and the region," Sharif said.

Sharif expressed his satisfaction over the positive momentum in the bilateral relations under the leadership of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and stressed that new understanding of brotherly relations between the two countries must be sustained and further strengthened.

Hakimi lauded Sharif's efforts to improve regional connectivity through rail and road links and said Afghanistan can be the transit hub between Pakistan and the Central Asian States.
Referring to CASA-1000 electricity scheme and other connectivity projects, Hakimi said that early realisation of these projects will provide a win-win situation for all the countries of the region.