Responding to diplomats, Almas Hyder said Afghanistan is an important trade partner of Pakistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan has recently ordered to keep Pak-Afghan border opened 24 hours that would help enhance trade and investment opportunities both sides. He said that Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India TAPI gas pipeline is also a good initiative.
Almas Hyder said that current account deficit has soared due to trade in dollars. There is a future plan to start trade in the local currency. He said engineering equipment manufacturing sector, cooked and processed food and information technology are growing rapidly in Pakistan.
About the pollution, he said the city (Lahore) has been facing this problem during winters from the last three-four years. The government is actively working to overcome the problem and this year situation was much better than the past. Another big reason of smog is wind pressure from India. In Indian part, near Lahore, an industrial area is emitting dangerous smoke and gases and due to the wind direction to Pakistan and pollution enters the Lahore City, he added.
Pakistan provides the shortest link to the Central Asian Republics and China and is sure to become the trade and energy corridor to these countries in the near future. One Belt One Road Initiative has already laid the foundation for it and the CPEC is all set to transform this dream into reality. Pakistan's economy is well on the way to recover from transitory hiccups and business community is optimistic that the present government will soon put Pakistan on the track of economic growth, he added.