Afghanistan welcomes Pakistan's fruit tax exemption

KABUL - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of the Taliban caretaker government on Sunday welcomed Pakistan's decision on exempting Afghan traders from paying sales tax on fresh fruit, spokesman of the ministry said Sunday.

"As a result of efforts by MoFA of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and through negotiations and agreement aimed at resolving issues of fresh fruit export, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has exempted previously levied 17 percent sales tax on fresh fruit exports from Afghanistan effective Sept 24, 2021," spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said in a statement.

He said land-locked Afghanistan has welcomed "this decision and calls for increased trade and transit, and further facilitation between the two countries."

Afghan traders also welcomed the measure, describing Pakistan as a good market for Afghan fruit, calling upon the government to facilitate the export of their fruit to the neighboring country.