Ashrafuddin Pirzada
AFGHANISTAN: A Pakistani delegation on Thursday visited Afghanistan where they held a meeting to help improve effective liaison and coordination for smooth operation of bilateral and transit trade on both sides of the border.
The fifteen-member delegation was headed by Director Transit Customs Department Arbab Qaiser Hameed,
Additional Director Transit Trade Shams Wazir, additional Collector Appraisement Muhammad Rizwan, Deputy Collector Appraisement Mohib Khan and Director Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi were also part of the delegation.
The head of Afghan customs of Nangarhar Province Haji Fazle Hadi received the delegation.
The participants discussed different issues including pendency in clearance of goods and presented different suggestions for resolution of the problems.
Director PAJCCI Zia ul Haq Sarhadi said that every stakeholder must be on board with the 2010 agreement of Transit Trade delayed in implementation.
He demanded to make the new transit trade Agreement of 2010 operational at the earliest otherwise business community could face a lot of problems.
Zia demanded the provision of smooth cargo transportation in trains which is not allowed.
He said transportation of containers by trucks is expensive and puts an extra financial burden on businessmen.
He appreciated holding of flag meeting at the border which not only allows stakeholders of the Afghan transit trade to meet but also shares problems and hurdles they face in the smooth sailing of the transit trade.
The representative from the Afghan side demanded an increase in permission for the number of attendants with patients. They said only one attendant is allowed with the patient and the government should allow a couple of more blood relations to arrive and give due time to the patient.
They also demanded expediting the visa issuance process and suggested constituting a liaison committee like that one formed in the Ministry of Commerce for the resolution of issues on a yearly basis.
The Consul General of Afghanistan should also arrange a meeting of businessmen on a fortnight basis to take review of issues being faced by them.
A demand was also made in the meeting to allow a cleaner along with the drive of trucks.
The participants observed that only the driver could not handle the truck in case of any problem and a cleaner must be allowed for his assistance without getting the visa.
The authorities of the National Logistic Cell (NLC) were also requested to expedite work on the construction of a new terminal at Torkhem to ensure speedy passage and clearance of goods-laden trucks.
The participants of the meeting were assured regarding coordination with Transit staff about the clearing of the pendency of T-1 documents.
Afghan officials informed that more than 25000 T-1 documents are cleared and work on the remaining is in progress.
