ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan has introduced new measures to ease trade for Afghan businesses using Gwadar Port, replacing the requirement for bank guarantees with insurance guarantees for bulk cargo, according to Sadiq Khan, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan.
Khan said the change would specifically benefit Afghan imports of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and other bulk commodities such as wheat, sugar, and fertilizers. “This measure will help the Afghan business community and consumers and is a step towards ease of business through Pakistan,” he stated.
The move comes as Afghanistan’s trade volume reached $12.42 billion in 2024, according to the Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, an increase from $10.8 billion the previous year. While exports to major markets like Pakistan and China reportedly declined, trade with Turkey and India experienced significant growth.
The adjustment in trade requirements is part of ongoing efforts by Pakistan to facilitate regional commerce and address challenges faced by Afghan traders, many of whom rely heavily on transit routes through Pakistan to access international markets.
