ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Pakistan Customs are trying to prepare new software with Pakistan Railways for the clearance of trans-shipment goods from one mode of transport to the other which is not allowed from rail to other modes of transportation.
A committee comprising experts is working in this regard and it is expected that the design of the software will be reviewed for clearance by rail. Till the software is re-designed, it will not be possible to transport goods in transit to Afghanistan by rail.
Sources at the FBR told Customs Today that the customs authorities in Karachi had switched over clearance system of Goods-in-Transit to Afghanistan, from traditional to computer based. In the past Afghan importers were allowed de-stuffing of containers at Karachi Port, but this facility is no more available. In the latest system, the imported containers have to clear the borders.
The source said that transportation of goods in transit to Afghanistan by rail due to gradient sections ex-Karachi to Peshawar and ex-Karachi to Chaman was an expensive operation. For hauling a load to Peshawar and Chaman from Karachi, 12 locomotives are required. Besides turn around for Peshawar is 12 days.
The source said that the government had allowed special reduced rates for goods in transit to Afghanistan which were apparently not meeting with even operational costs. In practical terms this is not a financially viable proposition.
It was a lucrative business in the days rail was the sole transporter and had monopoly over it. The Pakistan Railways is, therefore, re-examining its operational strategy for transportation of goods to Afghanistan.
