KHYBER AGENCY: The clearing process of the import and export commodities was suspended due to introduction of new conditions for clearing goods at the Custom Center Torkham.
On Wednesday morning, the custom officials at Torkham Center set nine fresh conditions for export at Torkham border. The clearing agents have to produce (1) authorization latter(2) Proof of payment, (3)Trade agreement between parties on prescribed papers, (4) Grading and marking certificate under Grading and Marking Rules 1967, 68,70 ,71 ,73 and 1979, (5)Membership/registration with respective product association (licensed by DGTO, Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan), (6)Certificate of origin from respective product association, (7)Copies of CNIC and NTN (National Tex Number), (8) Phytosanitary (fruit and vegetable) Certificate/Animal Quarantine Certificate and (9) I.P.O’s registration of brand for export of food items.
For import, the custom house asked the clearing agents for providing the following document while clearing import goods via Torkham border.
It includes (1) Authorization latter from importer to clearing agent (2) Certificate of origin (3) Phytosanitary Certificate (for fruit/dry fruit and vegetable),(4) Aflatoxin Certificate for( fruits and dry fruit) (5) Agreement between importer and Afghani exporter.
When Haji Wahid Shinwari, Vice-President of Torkham Clearing Agents Association was contacted on the matter, he said it was impossible for the clearing agents’ community to meet the conditions stipulated by the custom officials. He added that it is a time consuming procedure to produce all the requirements as offices of the authorities providing the certificates were located in Peshawar. In addition, most of the agents are unfamiliar with the newly introduced clearing regulations.
Because of lack of proper documents, not a single truck of exports or imports was cleared on Wednesday at the custom office Torkham. Haji Wahid said tomorrow an emergency meeting of the association will be convened that will decide the future strategy regarding the implementation of new clearing rules at Torkham Custom Center.
It is important to mention that as halting to clearing process, tens of hundreds loaded long trailers and trucks stranded on both sides of the border.
