Nasib Shah Shinwari
TORKHAM: All Custom clearance agents of Torkham on Monday boycotted the clearance of import-export goods at Pak Afghan border Torkham against the unavailability of facilities and web(web-based one-custom), an online system for the clearance of import and export trade goods implemented by PRAL(Pakistan Revenue Automation Pvt Ltd).
Talking to this scribe, the president of the all custom clearance agents association of Torkham, Hayat Ullah Shinwari said that the clearance agents agreed to accept the webcam system but due to the lack of fast internet and electricity they were facing difficulties.
He said to carry out online clearance of import and export trade goods, it needs fast internet which was not available in Torkham.
“The traders and custom clearance agents have met the political administration and customs department officials several times but they only made promises and have not resolved our issues”. Shinwari said adding that the custom department officials should train our employees so that they could be familiar with the Web system.
He demanded the authorities to ensure and provide basic facilities of fast internet and electricity which were essential for the Webcom system at Torkham border.
Political naib Tehsildar Torkha, Tehseenullah told this scribe that the political administration officials were in contact with the custom department officials about the matter.
He said the political administration was enthusiastic to resolve customs agents’ issues at Torkham and it was taking steps to provide facilities to clearance agents
A senior custom clearance agent Qari Ishaq Shinwari told this scribe that authorities should provide a fast internet facility at Torkham.
He said that custom agents at Torkham were ready to accept the authorities’ decision on the webcam system but the authorities should organize IT training for our office workers so that they could perform the online process easily.
He said without the fast facility of internet and 24 hours electricity, the implementation of the Webocom system was not possible at the Pak-Afghan border in Torkham.
When this scribe met the officials of PRAL for their official statement about the customs agents issue, Rizwanullah, the facilitation officer of Custom-PRAL responded with an explanation that the Webocom system was aimed to facilitate the process of import and export of goods throughout Pakistan.
He said the concerned department has set up 10 computers in Torkham and was planning to improve the system to facilitate the custom clearance agents.
The official said that this system was very fruitful and speedy for the clearance of import and export trade goods.
