ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan have implemented movement of transit and bilateral trade through Temporary Admis­sion Documents (TAD) for commercial vehicles.

The Pakistan Embassy in Kabul and the consulate generals in Jalalabad and Kandahar will issue TAD for Afghan vehicles. The Afg­han Embassy in Islamabad and consulate generals in Peshawar and Quetta will issue the entry documents for Pakistani vehicles.

The move, aimed at improving regional connectivity with the Central Asian States, envisages the provision of TAD to transporters from both sides.

As part of the agreement, both countries will allow free movement of each other’s trucks in their territories and cross-stuffing of goods at border points.

Early this month, senior officials of Pakistan and Afghanistan met at the Torkham border to discuss the smooth flow of trade and pedestrians, largely as part of a scheme aimed at enhancing bilateral ties with the landlocked country.

Since Aug 15, 2021, when the Taliban took over and declared their rule over Afghanistan, Islamabad has offered Kabul — among other humanitarian assistance — waivers of duty and taxes on fresh and dry fruits, vegetables and several other products.

During the last meeting, both sides agreed that the competent authority of one contracting party would issue a TAD against a fee to the vehicles registered and licensed in the territory of the other contracting party for international carriage of goods.

The two sides also agreed that TAD would be valid for six months and multiple journeys, while its fee was fixed at $100.

The transport operators can carry transit goods and bilateral trade goods, but sabotage is not allowed and any truck found transporting goods between two destinations inside the territory of the contracting party will be blacklisted.

The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation in Afgh­anistan and the Federal Board of Revenue in Pakistan are the competent authorities to issue TAD.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2022