BEIJING: A China-Kazakhstan free trade zone received about one million visits in the first quarter of 2017, according to local border inspection authorities. The Horgos International Border Cooperation Center on the China-Kazakhstan border, in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, has seen an increasing number of tourists since 2012. It attracted a total of 5.43 million tourists in 2016. Hu Ruifeng with the Horgos city border checkpoint said the center launched 12 self-service customs clearance passages in mid-March, which allow people to pass through customs in 10 seconds with the help of face and fingerprint identification devices.
Covering 5.28 square kilometers, the center opened in April 2012 as a destination for cross-border shopping. It has more than 40 duty-free shops selling luxury brands such as Omega and Versace. The facility is the world’s first cross-border free-trade zone the biggest duty-free shopping center in west China. It allows entry of citizens from any country with valid passports or with exit and entry permits.
Govt implements new financial controls to manage public funds
LAHORE: The federal government has introduced new financial regulations for all governmental bodies, including ministries and agencies, to enhance control...