ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: The import value of Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) fell by 36.82 per cent in September 2004 over the same month last year.

Official figures compiled by the commerce ministry showed that the value of ATT goods stood at Rs1.208 billion during the month under review as against Rs1.912 billion the same month last year, indicating a decline of over 36 per cent.

Afghanistan's imports through Torkham in September stood at Rs1.012 billion against Rs1.479 billion during the same month last year, showing a decrease of 31.57 per cent.

Figures of Afghan imports through the Chaman post stood at Rs195.590 million during the month against Rs432.959 million in September 2003, indicating a decrease of 54.8 per cent.

The total volume of ATT during the first quarter (July-September) period of the current fiscal year stood at Rs5.357 billion against Rs5.817 billion in the previous year, showing a decrease of 7.9 per cent.

Major items of transit trade were agricultural products, diesel, sugar, plastic goods, blankets, heaters, padlocks, battery cells, pencils, bicycles, black pepper, crockery, electronic goods, green cardamom, green tea, medicines and lighters.

The month-wise break up showed that it was only in July 2004 that imports under ATT fell by 72.8 per cent over the same month last year.

Following the imposition of the infrastructure cess by Government of Sindh, the imports under ATT registered a negative growth of more than 28 per cent during the month of August 2004 over the same month last year. The trend continued in September 2004.

Officials fear that the decrease in imports under ATT showed that Afghan importers have started importing goods through other routes like Bandar Abbas port of Iran.