ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have set up a trade working group, the prime minister’s office in Islamabad said on Tuesday after the conclusion of the first trilateral meeting between the three nations.
The tripartite meeting in Islamabad was co-chaired by the commerce ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the deputy prime minister of Uzbekistan. The three countries have been working on plans for trade transit and railway connections between South and Central Asia that would cross through Afghanistan.
“The three sides also established a trilateral working group to discuss customs, logistics, trade promotion, tariffs, TIR procedures, etc,” the PMO said in a statement after a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Dr. Jamshid Khodjaev Abdukhakomovich, and Caretaker Pakistani Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar in Islamabad.
“Showing satisfaction at the outcome of the trilateral meeting, the Prime minister hoped that the trilateral mechanism would boost trade relations between the three countries.”
“Kakar expressed satisfaction at the pace of bilateral engagements between the two countries especially in the areas of trade, defense and connectivity,” the statement added. “The Prime Minister underlined the need to continue momentum of people-to-people exchanges.”
Kakar said easy visa procedures, improved banking channels and reciprocal warehousing facilities would further boost trade between the two countries and hoped the business communities of both nations could easily achieve the bilateral trade target of $ 1 billion “in a short time.”
“The meeting focused on boosting trade relations among the three nations,” a statement from the Pakistani commerce ministry said after talks concluded. “Discussions centered around reducing trade barriers, simplifying customs procedures, and promoting smoother cross-border trade.”
The officials also discussed regional connectivity and enhancing transportation networks and promoting infrastructure development to facilitate the movement of goods.
“By promoting economic interdependence and cooperation, we can build a foundation for sustainable development and prosperity in the region,” Pakistani commerce minister Dr. Gohar Ejaz was quoted by the statement as saying.
“By leveraging their strengths and resources, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan can tap into new markets and expand their economies,” the minister added.
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan set up trade working group at first trilateral meeting
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Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan set up trade working group at first trilateral meeting
- Three countries working on plans for trade transit, railway connections between South and Central Asia that would cross through Afghanistan
- Tripartite meeting in Islamabad co-chaired by commerce ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan, deputy prime minister of Uzbekistan
Rescuers recover video recorders from burnt Karachi mall as death toll reaches 71
- Identification has been significantly slowed by the condition of the remains recovered from site of Gul Plaza fire
- The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation says video recorders may help investigators ascertain the cause of the inferno
ISLAMABAD: Rescuers searching the ruins of Karachi’s fire-hit Gul Plaza recovered three digital video recorders (DVRs) that may help investigators ascertain the cause of the blaze, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) said on Friday, as the death toll from the tragedy rose to 71.
The fire broke out on Jan. 17 at Gul Plaza, a densely packed commercial complex in the heart of Karachi, trapping workers and shoppers inside. Police earlier said the blaze could have resulted from a short circuit, however, authorities have yet to ascertain it.
Amid ongoing rescue operation, the Urban Search and Rescue Team found the DVRs and a charger in a room adjacent to the mosque inside Gul Plaza, which were handed over to the Karachi South deputy commissioner, according to KMC.
“With the help of DVRs, it is possible to find important evidence about the cause of the Gul Plaza tragedy,” KMC said in a statement. “The search and rescue operation is underway at the affected building with safety measures in place.”
The statement came hours after authorities raised the death toll in the incident to 71.
“We have processed 71 sets of remains, of which 20 have been identified,” chief police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed said, underscoring the scale of the disaster and the challenges facing forensic teams.
Identification has been significantly slowed by the condition of the remains recovered from the site, Syed said, noting that many bodies were found in fragments, complicating DNA analysis and prolonging the process for families waiting for confirmation.
Relatives of dozens of missing persons have remained near the destroyed plaza and at hospitals even after submitting DNA samples, with some families expressing frustration over the pace of recovery and identification.
Deadly fires are a recurring problem in Karachi, a city of more than 20 million people, where overcrowded markets, aging infrastructure, illegal construction and weak enforcement of safety regulations frequently contribute to disasters. Officials say a blaze of this scale is rare.
Traders have estimated total losses from the fire at up to Rs15 billion ($53.6 million). The Sindh provincial government this week announced compensation of Rs10 million ($35,720) for the family of each person killed in the blaze and said affected shopkeepers would also receive financial assistance.
