ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is going to ink an agreement with National Logistics Cell (NLC) to up-grade the existing facilities at Torkham and Chaman Border Terminals under the Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITTMS).
In this regard, both the departments will conclude agreements by April and May this year for Torkham and Chaman border terminals, respectively.
The objective of ITTMS is to make global supply chain safer through a variety of measures, including proper monitoring / tracking of transit and commercial cargo, geo-fencing to eliminate illegal movement of goods and people, combat illegal movement of cargo and prevent backward flow of transit trade goods. The border terminals will serve as single window for facilitating trade and securing the supply chain.
“Funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB), ITTMS will address critical issues pertaining to regulation of cross border trade with neighbouring countries” a well-placed source at FBR told Customs Today.
The source said that integrated facilities would be established on modern lines to provide adequate space to manage large volumes of transit cargo, effective tracking and monitoring, cargo scanning and latest weigh bridges.
The measures will help in expeditious clearance of cargo and remove congestion at site. In the long run negative spill-over effects of transit trade on local industry will be eliminated through ITTMS.
The source said that FBR awarded the up-gradation of project to NLC in December 2015 for which renowned consultant firm was engaged to develop state-of-the-art design incorporating detailed requirements. The firm presented design in March last year which was also appreciated by ADB’s own consultants. However, the scope of work exceeded the budgetary allocation.
Following which, the source said that a design review committee was constituted to rationalize the cost of the project by revisiting the scope of work. A modified design was submitted in line with revised scope of work as desired by FBR in September 2017.
“Presently, work on fast track basis to finalize the designing process of Torkham Border Terminal which is likely to be completed by the end of current month. Meanwhile, land measuring 300 kanals for Torkham Border Terminal has been acquired for which 99-year lease agreement was signed with Khugakhel Shinwari tribe in November 2016” the source observed.
In this regard, the source said that FBR/ Land Port Authority and Khogakhel Tribe/ Khyber Agency political administration signed an agreement. Now the tribe is being given monthly share of income through political agent as per agreement. Likewise, 115 acres of army land is available at site for construction of Chaman Border terminal which will be transferred as per rules.
