LAHORE: A delegation comprising construction industry representatives is leaving for Kabul on June 29, for a four-day visit to explore the possibility of its share in the emerging construction industry bonanza in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Originally, this Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) sponsored delegation was scheduled to leave on May 29 last month, but the law and order situation along with some other hidden factors, prevented the delegation from making such a visit.

Representatives from steel, bricks and kiln, cement, pipe and other relative industries are included in the delegation, which would stay in Kabul for four days.

"Is it not a pity that Pakistan's first official delegation is leaving for this most-important neighbouring country with almost three years' delay", a member of the delegation told The News here on Saturday.

This is one of four delegations, which have been planned for Afghanistan.

Other three delegations would be from household items, pharmaceuticals and miscellaneous which includes representatives of all daily use items' providers.

Speaking on the importance of the delegation, a representative of the pipe industry, who is also leaving along with the delegation, said that the businessmen had been waiting for the official patronising of trade with Afghanistan for the last three years and these delegations are indicative of the fact that they mean business.

He said that in a peculiar procurement procedure adopted by the newly installed Afghanistan government, the presence of a warehouse for Pakistani goods has become vital.

Goods suppliers in Afghanistan under the Afghanistan's reconstruction programme have to make a physical presentation of goods within four weeks for awarding the contract.

In this scenario Pakistan is the most suitable supplier of goods should it have its own warehouse.

Currently, Pakistani suppliers of goods are enjoying the inherent geographical advantage as they can make delivery at any place of Afghanistan within 72 hours.

However, this advantage would be no more should China gains access to Afghanistan through Turkmenistan or the Indian government completes the construction of its warehouses there.

Pakistan's has aimed enhancing its exports to Afghanistan to $200 by the end of the current year and a $100 million; grant has already been announced by Islamabad, as part of reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan to facilitate this process.

The two sides have also agreed for the construction of a road, linking Turkhan to Jalalabad for an easy land route to Kabul.