KARACHI: The volume of transportation of Afghan Transit Trade has reportedly declined by an estimated 65 to 70 percent at the Pakistan’s ports i.e. Karachi Port and Port Qasim, it is learnt.
Now, the Afghan Transit Trade has almost been shifted to Iran, benefiting it for all, insiders told Customs Today.
According to these sources, the Directorate of Transit Trade, Customs House did not have any data maintained to tell the exact number with regard to the decline of transit trade. However, with an estimate, it can be stated that around 70 percent decline has been witnessed in this regard, sources added.
The volume of Afghan Transit Trade through Pakistan has been on a constant decline. It is reportedly dropped by over 54 percent during fiscal year 2011-12.
Quoting Afghan traders, sources said the cost of a single container from Karachi to Kabul reaches at $5,000 as compared to $3,500 from Iran.
Besides the high transportation cost, the significant decline in Pakistan’s share in the overall Afghan Transit Trade could also be attributed to a number of factors such as the law and order situation and political situation
At present, over 2,000 containers are used in the Afghan Transit Trade form the Karachi ports and trucks on which these Kabul-bound cargoes are transported are tracked cent percent.
