Islamabad, July 18 (UNI) Pakistan’s private companies are importing a healthy amount of coal from Afghanistan to fuel their plants, creating new and productive economic activity for the people and the government of the cash-strapped economy of Afghanistan. The fast-increasing pace of coal imports by the Pakistani private sector from Afghanistan is a win-win situation for the people and the government of Afghanistan — to benefit from the bilateral trade activity, which will help somewhat stabilize the crippling economic situation of the country.
As per details, at least three Pakistani companies are involved in the coal trade with Afghanistan at the private level. On the government end, no agreement has been reached between the two governments for the moment.
However, Afghanistan’s Tolo News reported that all of the three Pakistani companies buying coal from Afghanistan were related to Pakistan Army and that they were purchasing the coal at reduced rates.
The claim was rejected by Pakistani authorities, who maintained that coal imports were in fact being undertaken by private companies on both sides and had no affiliation with the Pakistan government or any institution.
The claim was also rejected by Afghanistan’s petroleum ministry, which clarified that there was no official contract with the government of Pakistan regarding the export of Afghan coal.
Afghanistan’s coal trade market is one of the biggest revenue resources for the country and has been contributing heavily to running its economic cycle and benefiting miners, transporters, and common Afghans.
