June 24, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 23,1424

ISLAMABAD, June 23: The import value of Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) has increased by more than 41 per cent during the July-May period of the current financial year over the corresponding period of last fiscal.

Official figures released by the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) here on Monday showed the import value of ATT during 11 months of the current financial year stood at Rs16.92 billion against Rs11.99 billion during the same period of last fiscal, showing an increase of Rs4.93 billion.

Further break-up showed the import value of ATT stood at Rs4.313 billion during May 2003 against Rs1.27 billion during the same month of last year, an increase of Rs3.043 billion.

Officials told Dawn the increase registered in the volume of ATT during May was mainly due to exclusion of eight items from the list of 24 negative list.

Moreover, the decrease announced in the railway freights charges for Afghan transit cargo was also one of the major reasons for massive imports under the ATT in May. With these decisions, the officials said now the Afghan importers were importing goods through Pakistan under the ATT to take part in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Similarly, during the current year Afghanistan also imported massive goods from Pakistan, which were comparatively cheaper for them as compared to the goods imported under the ATT.