Businessmen and traders have stressed the need to keep the lines of communication and trade open on both sides of the Af-Pak border. They expressed these views during the 6th meeting of the Border Committee held at Customs Station, Torkham. The meeting was chaired by the Additional Collector of Collectorate of Customs (Appraisement) Muhammad Rizwan. Businessmen were of the view that effective liaison and coordination for the smooth operation of bilateral and transit trade is necessary in order to increase the crossover of vehicles on both sides of the border.

The delegation from the Pakistani side was led by the Director of Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi. It included officials from NLC, FC, and the State Bank of Pakistan. The Afghan delegation included Ismail Khan Shinwari (Transport Attaché Afghan Consulate) and Allauddin, among others. The meeting expressed dissatisfaction over the pendency issue and also deliberated over the number of stranded documents which had reached 50,000. The meeting was apprised that delay in the registration of documents occurred because of continuous dysconnectivity of VPN and WeBOC.

Further, the pendency of previous ISAF-related consignments was also slowing down the system, the meeting was told. They were, however, assured of the clearance of T-1 documents in time. Businessmen from Pakistan demanded that the Ilam-o-Khabar (Afghan document) should be re-issued and also that Afghan higher authorities should be informed about their higher valuation of coal in comparison with international markets.

Afghan delegation requested that people who accompanied dead bodies across the border should be facilitated in every manner to which the Pakistani authorities replied that bona fide individuals were already being facilitated in this regard. Representatives of the combined chambers lauded the efforts of customs authorities regarding the clearance of stuck-up vehicles which are now being cleared and have saved traders from heavy demurrage. The Afghan authorities were also requested to look into the matter of the registration of medicine exported from Pakistan.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk