Business
Pakistan’s trade delegation meets finance ministry officials in Kabul
Pakistan delegation discussed Tuesday with the finance officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) regarding bilateral trade issues at Serena Hotel in Kabul.
This delegation arrived in Kabul on Monday evening and had an introductory meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, but the trade issues between the two countries will be discussed in three-day meetings.
Officials of the IEA said that the focus is more on the issue of coal export, adding that efforts are being made to find a solution to the existing problems so that the two countries can have commercial relations within the established framework.
“So far, this Pakistani delegation has met with the Deputy Minister of Commerce of Afghanistan and also discussed with the officials of the Ministry of Finance, and these discussions are still going on, but the details of the discussions have not been determined,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman of the IEA.
On the other hand, some economic experts said that the improvement of political and economic relations with regional and neighboring countries will lead the country towards economic convergence and these relations will increase investment in the country.
Pakistan delegation requested from the IEA officials to ease the coal exports while the price of this commodity has increased in the global market.
In the meantime, Geo news agency reported Tuesday that ahead of a Pakistani trade delegation’s visit to Kabul, the Islamic Emirate has raised the price of imported coal yet again.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently announced the import of coal from Afghanistan for power generation, claiming that it will save the country approximately $2 billion. He said that the coal from Afghanistan will be priced in rupees rather than dollars.
Following the announcement by the prime minister, the IEA raised the price of imported coal from $90 per ton to $200 per ton, Geo reported.
Geo citing Afghan media reports as saying, the IEA has raised the price of coal yet again, this time by $80 per ton.
Geo reported quoting Ismatullah Burhan, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Minerals and Petroleum, the new price of coal will be $280 per ton, with immediate effect.
Pakistan’s kinno exports remain far below potential as regional tensions, high freight costs and weak government support continue to choke the citrus trade.
Despite being a leading global citrus producer, Pakistan is expected to export just 400,000–450,000 tonnes of kinno in the 2025–26 season, compared with an estimated capacity of 700,000–800,000 tonnes.
Exports in 2024–25 stood at around 350,000–400,000 tonnes, mainly to Russia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Indonesia and Central Asia. While better fruit quality this season has raised hopes, persistent crossing disruptions—especially with Afghanistan—and transport bottlenecks have offset gains.
Growers say prices have collapsed sharply, forcing panic sales. Rates for large kinno have fallen from over Rs120 per kg early in the season to as low as Rs75, while smaller fruit is selling for Rs35–40 per kg amid weak demand.
Industry leaders warn the crisis is crippling processing units and jobs. More than 100 factories reportedly failed to open this season, with dozens more shutting down as exports stall. Cold storages in Sargodha are nearly full, putting fruit worth millions of dollars at risk of spoilage, while growers fear losses of up to Rs10 billion.
Exporters are urging the government to urgently resolve issues, subsidise logistics, and help access alternative markets, warning that prolonged inaction could devastate farmers, workers and the wider economy.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Tehran will facilitate trade and economic exchanges with Afghanistan, including easing procedures at customs and local marketplaces.
He made the remarks during a televised interview following his visit to South Khorasan province, which shares a border with Afghanistan.
Pezeshkian, in a separate event addressing local business leaders, highlighted the province’s strategic advantages, citing its rich mineral resources, proximity to neighboring countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, and access to the ocean via the Chabahar port. He described the region as “a golden opportunity not found everywhere,” emphasizing its potential for economic growth and cross-border commerce.
A Kazakh delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Finance of Kazakhstan met with Sediqullah Khalid, First Deputy Governor of Da Afghanistan Bank, to discuss ways of strengthening banking and economic cooperation between the two countries.
According to a statement issued by Da Afghanistan Bank, Khalid said the central bank is keen to establish regular and effective banking relations with Kazakhstan as part of broader efforts to expand bilateral trade.
He noted that enhanced banking cooperation would help facilitate trade, investment, and wider economic interaction between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan, while also contributing to financial stability at the regional level.
Members of the Kazakh delegation also emphasized the importance of developing banking and economic ties and expressed their readiness to expand joint cooperation.
The two sides further agreed to establish technical committees from both countries to hold expert-level discussions and advance practical steps for cooperation.
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