Pak-Afghan transit trade

CCI for discouraging smuggling

Thursday, December 10, 2009
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Wednesday called upon the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to work for rationalising the duty and tariff structures before signing of the new Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA) to discourage smuggling.

Chairing a meeting of local goods transporters, ICCI President Zahid Maqbool stressed that opening of a letter of credit, particularly of sensitive/smuggling-prone goods should be made mandatory for Afghan importers through Afghan banks to check the back smuggling of transit goods to Pakistan.

He showed concern over the import of a large quantity of raw materials and luxury goods for Afghanistan which the Afghan economy cannot absorb in its present condition. He said that these goods will ultimately come back into Pakistan hurting domestic manufactures and legal importers. He asked the government to take stern measures to stop the black market of transit goods to protect the local industry.

The transporters expressed reservations over the “planned” permission to Indian transport companies for transportation of goods through the Wagah border and the transportation of Afghanistan-bound goods through Afghan trucks from Karachi Port to Afghanistan ignoring Pakistani interests.

They demanded that only Pakistani goods carriers be allowed to transport goods under ATTA from Karachi to Torkham and no foreign company be permitted to carry these goods inside Pakistan.