PESHAWAR: The Customs Department earlier issued a tender for constructing a customs station at Mamond area in Bajour Agency to facilitate the trade with Afghanistan has not been made possible yet which raises concern. To customize the trade with Afghanistan more customs stations are needed to be constructed on Afghanistan border.
This was stated by industrialists and importers of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry while talking to Customs Today.
The trade through Angaor Adda has been restarted but three trade routes in Bajour Agency are still to be reopened which were closed due to security reasons in the region of FATA back in 2014.
Trade has been also made possible on Kharlachi border in Khuram Agency with Afghanistan in order to provide safe passage to the vehicles loaded with Afghanistan imports via Pakistan.
The Directorate of Pakistan-Afghanistan Trade and Transit needs to be opened at all the possible trade routes to Afghanistan in order to increase exports.
The mutual trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan reduced to 500million dollars in June 2017 from 1.5billion dollar in 2016 due to strict policies applied by the governments of both countries.
Industrialists at the Sarhad Chambar of Commerce and Industries informed Customs Today on Monday that they are facing losses due to limited facilities provided by the National logistics Cell and Customs Department on borders with Afghanistan. Torkham Gate is the main route where Pakistan does exports largely to Afghanistan and both countries earn handsome revenue. Due to strict policies and poor security situation, the exports to Afghanistan has reduced and the market now has been occupied by China, India and Iran. The importers also demanded that government should remove the increase in regulatory duty on imports and exports to Afghanistan.
The increase in RD is badly affecting the import of vegetables and fruits from Afghanistan, and export of cloth, machinery, cement, steel and other items to Afghanistan has also reached a very low. The importers also said that about 45 trucks of fresh vegetables were sent back to Afghanistan after a 15-day stay on borders.
The Web OC service for registration of importers is remarkable step which will prove to be a vital step for promotion of genuine trade.
The President of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry earlier demanded to solve the issues being faced by importers and exporters to facilitate trade with Afghanistan, they said.
