ISLAMABAD: Directing the Customs department to clear stuck up containers at Torkham and Chaman borders within a week, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser on Wednesday said easing scanning requirements for Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) will be beneficial for the whole region.

He was chairing the appraisal meeting of the Executive committee of Pakistan Afghanistan Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG) to review the implementation of decisions regarding Pak-Afghan Trade and visa facilitation here in the Parliament House.

Mr Qaiser said promoting exports was imperative for economic stability and development of Pakistan.

He said that Afghanistan by virtue of its location was a favorable export destination besides being at the transit route to Central Asia. The NA speaker stressed for implementation of the recommendations of the Executive Committee of Pak-Afghan Friendship Group for realizing export potential of the country.

The committee was informed by the officials of National Logistic Cell (NLC) that container clearance had reached average up to 1,870 per day due to deployment of extra personnel. Speedy clearance of Afghanistan-bound cargo enhanced up to 2,000 containers per day in near future, NLC officers added.

The NA speaker lauded the performance of the Federal Board of Revenue and Customs department regarding container clearance on Torkham and Chaman borders. He noted that easing down scanning requirements for ATT would facilitate traders and directed the Customs department to complete the process within week. The committee also directed State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to ensure establishment of banks’ branches at Angoor Adda and Ghulam Khan Borders for facilitation of the traders.

The SBP representative said the Bank of Khyber and National Bank of Pakistan would establish their respective branches within stipulated time.

The committee also welcomed the decision of the federal cabinet to liberalise visa policy for Afghan nationals.

Enquiring about the implementation of the matter related to off-loading of import containers at Miran Shah instead of Ghulam Khan and deployment of FIA personnel at Ghulam Khan, Angoor Adda and Kharlachi, the speaker directed the Interior Secretary to immediately assess the ground situation and submit a report.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2020