ISLAMABAD: Muhammad Zubair Yusafani, the project director of the Integrated Transit Trade Management System, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), has disclosed that construction of complexes at Torkham, Chaman and Wagah will start in December 2017.
In an interview with Customs Today, he said that bids are being evaluated and a final decision will be taken in November this year. He said that the project to improve border services primarily focuses on three existing border crossing points which are being used for transit trade with Afghanistan, India and potentially the Central Asian Republics.
He said that the project covers the construction of import and export processing zones, passenger terminals with separate parking areas, construction of integrated administrative office buildings, widening of approach roads and construction of new multi-approach traffic lanes with checking booths to install new equipment such as cargo X-Ray scanning machines, truck weighing and pedestrian multi-entry and exit-lanes scanning and detection equipment at all three border crossing points. He said that one window operation will be launched while information and communication technology will be used to facilitate the transit trade.
“This is $500 million project, which will be completed in five years with the help of the Asian Development Bank,” he said. He added that the visit of Pakistan by Secretary General World Customs Organization Dr Kunio Mikuriya has very exceptional importance.
It is important to mention here that through competitive process, a four-member committee was selected by Dr. Muhammad Zubair, a BS-20 officer of Pakistan Customs Service, as project director for ITTMS Project. Under this project, border trade complex will be constructed on Torkham, Chaman and Wahga Borders.
Dr Zubair stated that the construction of proposed facilities at Torkham BCP will require about 50.3 acres of land on permanent basis from private and communal landowners. Of the total required land, 37.3 (74%) acres will be acquired from communal land owned by Khuga Khel Clan of Shinwari Tribe and 13 (26%) acres will be acquired from private land owners i.e. three households and extended families. He added that a total of 12 commercial structures (Nine shops, two weigh stations and one petrol pump) and three residential structures will be affected due to this project.
He further said the National Logistic Cell (NLC) is our main contractor and assured that project will be completed within the set period and all contracts will be awarded on merit and in transparent manners. The FBR highly appreciates the support of the donors for effective implementation of the Integrated Transit Trade Management System.
He said the Federal Board of Revenue wanted to ensure digital mapping of documents filed by the importers and exporters to ensure comparison of the cargo details at the time of entry and exit. Through cargo scanning, the custom would be able to electronically transmit its images from entry to Exit collectorates. In this regard, digital mapping of the documents is necessary for comparison of the transit cargo.
