Pakistan and Afghanistan have signed Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement for establishment of Electronic Data Interchange.

The agreement was signed by Member (Customs-Operation), FBR Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda and Director General of Afghan Customs Department, Khalillulah Saleh Zad on behalf of their respective organizations in Islamabad.

During the signing ceremony, Afghanistan's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Nisar Ahmad Ghoriyani and Chairman FBR Muhammad Javed Ghani were also present.

The agreement will ensure reduced clearance time as well as optimum trade facilitation for import, export and transit cargo between the two countries.

It will also ensure reduced risk of evasion of duties and taxes and effective control over smuggling.