PESHAWAR: The persistent efforts of Qurban Ali Khan Collector Customs MCC Peshawar, worked as the Land Customs Station Kharlachi, Kurram Agency has been re-opened for bilateral trade activities on Monday after four months long closure of trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The Pakistan Customs in consonance with government’s policy to ensure safeguard of national economic interests without any compromise on national security interests had efforts in this regard to discus the matter of closure of several Customs Stations with corresponding security agencies.
Collector Customs Qurban Ali Khan in a talk with Customs Today said that upon concern efforts these Customs Stations will be opened step by step in order to safeguard the trade activities between the traders of both countries.
He said “It’s important to recall that all the crossing points on Pakistan Afghanistan border including Torkham, Chaman, Kharlachi, Burki Shaheedano dhand (Kurram Agency) were closed by the Pakistan security authorities due to security threats months ago”. The closure have caused loss of million of rupees to revenue collections of Fiscal Year 2016-17.
Torkham and Chaman border were re-opened in March this year while the other Customs Stations remained close till now upon which Pakistan Customs has taken initiative to highlight the loss to revenue occurred due to the closures of trade with Afghanistan on several routes.
He further said that during his visit to Landi Kotal, He had assured the trader’s community that efforts were underway to open other land Customs Stations along brotherly held border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Re-opening of Customs Station Kharlachi will not only facilitate traders of both countries but also will contribute a lot to the generation of public revenue, he added.
Efforts are also afoot to get opened other crossing points including land Customs Station Ghulam Khan.The proactive role being played by Collector Customs Qurban Ali Khan will help to boost the national revenue.
Upon a question to know the proper share of these closed Customs Stations to the revenue of MCC Peshawar he informed that these Customs Stations contribute a lot to the revenue on one hand and facilitate the traders community on the other to cross to Afghanistan on shortest trading route.
