PESHAWAR: From 11 October, the traffic of trade at the Pak-Afghan Trade and Transit Route remained irregular due to rejection of modifications in customs clearance of imports and exports by the customs clearing agents at Torkham Customs Station.
On Thursday, a meeting was called to find an end to the problems. The meeting was attended by Deputy Collector Torkham Customs Station Muhammad Najib Anjum, FC Coronel and Political Tehsildar along with President of the Customs Clearing Agents at Torkham Customs Station to talk about the future of Customs Clearing via Torkham.
The President Customs Clearing Agents agreed to a document to provide all the necessary details for clearing of goods via Torkham Border. After the agreement, stranded trucks were allowed to pass the border.
The customs officials informed Customs Today that, in the first phase, E-Filing was introduced to prepare the importers for new customs laws. The new customs clearance will be digitalized which is a major requirement of the time to plug the leakage of the national exchequer on daily basis.
The Pakistan Customs has prepared a draft which was delivered to each chamber of commerce and industry in which a proper documentation was required about the importers, exporters, traders and manufacturers in order to bring them all in the web based one customs clearance service.
Recently, customs officials have asked about the complete possession of documents which require visa, NOC of importers, exporters and place of contentment for supply of goods which are brought into Pakistan or supplied to Afghanistan.
Hidayat Ullah Shinwari talked about the problems confronted by the Customs Clearing Agents and added that we have no opposition to web one customs service nor new modifications of customs laws but Torkham Customs lacks proper facilities.
The FBR needs to consider the real situation of Torkham Customs Station which is situated at a distance from the center of facilities.
It will be very good if FBR, after providing facilities, asks for efficient results.
The deputy collector assured the delegation that high-ups of the FBR will be informed of the issues which have been creating hurdles for efficient customs clearing of goods and vehicles.
