ISLAMABAD: United Nations has accepted Pakistan’s Instrument of Accession to the Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods (TIR Convention) which will greatly facilitate Pakistan’s trade with Afghanistan, Central Asian and ECO countries and even Europe.

The convention will come into force for Pakistan on Jan 21 next.

An official announcement issued here by the commerce ministry said the TIR convention provides that goods would be accompanied by an internationally accepted Customs document (TIR Carnet), opened in the country of departure and serving as a Customs control document in the countries of departure, transit and destination.

Goods would travel in Customs secure vehicles or containers and throughout the journey, duties and taxes at risk would be covered by an internationally valid guarantee. Customs control measures taken in the country of departure would be accepted by all countries of transit and destination.

With the increased focus on regional trade and connectivity with Afghanistan, Central Asia and ECO, implementation of different transit trade agreements / treaties, including TIR, has become crucial.

All ECO countries, except Pakistan, had acceded to TIR Convention. This convention will facilitate free movement of all goods/carried within the ECO countries under ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA).—Staff Reporter

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2015

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