Pak, India Customs to propose setup of IT based data transfer to expedite trade
LAHORE: In order to expedite bilateral trade activities between Pakistan and India through Wagha border, the customs authorities of both sides will propose to their respective governments to establish IT based data transfer system between the two countries.
The proposal came under discussion during the 19th Customs Liaison Border Committee (CLBC) meeting between both sides of the borders and will be implemented if it is approved by Islamabad and New Delhi.
Both the customs authorities will take up the proposal with their respective governments and will await its approval.
The CLBC is held after every two and a half month between Customs authorities in Lahore and Amritsar to discuss and streamline issues and concerns related to trade via Wagha border.
Earlier, a delegation of Indian customs under the supervision of Indian Customs Principal Commissioner Sunil Kumar Sahani held a meeting with Pakistan Customs authorities at Customs House Lahore.
The 19th CLBC was held in Indian city of Amritsar and Pakistan customs’ delegation under the supervision of chief collector of customs Rozi Khan Burki met Indian Customs authorities. The delegation was comprising of Collector of Customs Mukarram Jah Ansari, Wagha Additional Collector of Customs Sadia Munib, Deputy Collector Ammara Durrani and others.
Collector of Customs Lahore Preventive Mukarram Jah Ansari told Customs Today besides the proposal of evolving data exchange system of tradable goods and articles a number of major issues were also discussed. The Indian Customs acknowledged and lauded efforts of Pakistan Customs in arresting issues pertaining to smuggling of narcotics and transportation of Indian currency to the country through passengers while Pakistani customs officers lauded Indian customs measures against betel leaves smuggling and vegetable fumigation related issues.
He told this scribe that the Indian customs authorities had complained of narcotics smuggling from Lahore to Amritsar in mechanical parts of trains. However, the Indian customs authorities have acknowledged that within the last two and a half months the narcotics smuggling has almost finished.
“We took up the issues with the Railways authorities which resulted in 95 percent reduction in the complaints and the Indian customs authorities welcomed the results,” he added.
Mukarram pointed out that foreigners are not allowed to take with them more than Rs 2,000 Indian currency.
“ The Indian Customs authorities had sought Pakistani Customs cooperation in resolving the issue. We extended our full corporation initiating a move by educating passengers leaving for India and the drive resulted in 95 percent reduction of such complaints of Pakistani passengers carrying Indian currency more than Rs 2000. We festooned banners at the Passenger Facilitation Centre forbidding passenger from carrying excessive Indian currency with them, told them verbally and educated them on Indian currency rules”, he explained, adding that as a result of the campaign not a single complaint of excessive Indian currency with Pakistani passenger has been made by the Indian Customs.
The customs authorities on the other side of the Wagha border have admitted that efforts on the part of the Pakistani customs have worked well, the Collector of Customs explained.
On the other hand, Pakistani Customs was confronted by smuggling of commercial quantities of betel leaves as Indian train passengers were habitual of bringing in with them across the border in Pakistan. We took up the issue with the Indian Customs authorities and in the result of it during the last two and a half months the issue has also been resolved to a great extent, the collector said.
Earlier, vegetables transported from India to Pakistan were being destroyed for not being fumigated properly but now it has been decided not to waste away the vegetables if any complaint arise but the Plant Protection Department will itself fumigate the vegetables.
However, Indian customs authoritieshave become vigilant in the result of our complaints and now they are exporting vegetables following proper fumigation, the Collector informed.
