ISLAMABAD, Nov 11: The government has decided to set up a dry port at Sost on Pakistan-China border to facilitate trade between the two countries, an official source told Dawn.
The decision to this effect has already been taken by the Economic Coordination Com-mittee of the cabinet (ECC).
Sost Customs checkpost, situated in Gojal Tehsil of Hunza subdivision, some 300km north-east of Gilgit, has become a hub of trade activities in recent years.
A circular has been sent to the Customs collectorate, Rawalpindi, asking it to select a site for setting up of the port.
The collectorate has been directed to work out the requirements for the port with personnel to be employed there to carry out the work in consultation with the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas (KANA).
The project was planned some four years back but it was delayed due to dispute on the port site.
A group of traders wanted to set up the port at Jutal, some 30km from Gilgit city but the site was not feasible and rejected by the authorities concerned.
The government after a feasibility study and survey gave final approval to the port to be set up at Sost.
The project has been initiated on the suggestion of KANA ministry.
Exporters and importers have to place their consignments in the open for clearance from customs, which may take weeks and months. This causes damages and losses to the merchandise of the traders.
A source said that most of the goods trucks were parked in open and most of the imported items were smuggled to Gilgit and other cities of the country through mountain routes.
Due to the shrinking of Afghan Transit Trade and removal of the electronic goods from the Afghan Transit Trade list, Chinese smuggled goods, particularly electronic appliances, were on the rise in the Bara markets.
The main items imported from China include crockery, electronic appliances, cloths, toys, computer hardware and games.
Despite the fact that the government has imposed a ban on import of firecrackers, it is being reportedly smuggled in mainly from China, the source added.
According to official figures compiled by CBR the customs department seized foreign smuggled goods at a tune of Rs656 million during the first quarter of the current financial year against Rs919 million seizure over the corresponding period last year, showing a decline of 28.6 per cent.
