Ashrafuddin Pirzada
TORKHAM: The first Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) shipment from China entered Afghanistan via the Torkham border on Thursday, officials said.
Director Transit Trade Customs Arbab Qaiselar Hameed told Fata Voice News Agency that two trucks loaded with approximately 40 tons of Chinese dry fruits reached to Torkham border. He said it was the first-ever Chinese consignment through TIR reached Afghanistan.
In connection, a historical event was held at Torkham Zero point marking a major development in the realm of transit trade which could go a long way in enhancing the transit trade activities via the Torkham border.
Arbab Qaisar said the Chinese consignment was a good omen to strengthening economic ties with China, Afghanistan and Central Asian republics. He said Importantly, the TIR facility was being regularly availed by the traders for import, export and transit to Central Asian States and Russia via Torkham.
Besides the Pak-Afghan traders, the ceremony was attended by the officers of the Directorate of Transit Trade, Peshawar, Collectorates of Customs, Appraisement and Custom Enforcement.
Pakistan Army, National Logistic Cell(NLC) officials, Afghan customs officials and the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce also attended the event.
The Director, of Transit Trade, Peshawar, Arbab Qaisar Hameed, said the significant developments and major initiatives undertaken by Pakistan customs in the recent past to enhance, facilitate and streamline the Transit and bilateral Trade with Afghanistan and the rest of the world.
He said the measures include the Uzbekistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (UPTTA), Tajikistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (TPTTA) and Air to Land Transit Trade Facility was also inplaced for cargo through Ghulam Khan, Simplification of TIR rules, regulating the movement of Afghani vehicles through border stations.
Arbab said that with the completion of the Integrated Transit and Trade Management System (ITTMS), the problem of traffic congestion at Torkham could be resolved and the volume of Bilateral and Transit Trade would be greatly increased.
