ISLAMABAD, Dec 12: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday emphasized the need for a result-oriented approach so that the logistics chain could allow Pakistan to improve competitiveness and affectively face the challenges.

Presiding over a meeting of a task force on National Trade Corridor (NTC), the prime minister also underlined the need for benchmark performance of logistics chain with other countries.

He directed all agencies to move promptly on re-designing of procedures and processes, strengthening of infrastructure — roads, railways, airports and ports — to improve the logistics chain with a view to reduce the cost of business, facilitate trade and investment in Pakistan and increase competitiveness of indigenous products in the global market.

He reviewed the implementation status of the decisions taken earlier, particularly, regarding progress on matters related to railways, trade facilitation, ports, trucking, and highways, etc.

The prime minister was informed that, acting on his directives, a number of steps had been taken to facilitate trade. A New transhipment procedure has been devised, which will be implemented by December 31, 2005.

The new procedure envisages elimination of filing of transhipment permit and direct delivery of goods to the carrier. Electronic filing of goods declaration (GD) and import general manifest (IGM), before the arrival of vessel, has been introduced. A new procedure, for expeditious clearance of goods in-transit to Afghanistan, has been devised and a computer network between Karachi Customs House and other customs houses in the country has been established. Second, daily dedicated container cargo services have been launched by Railways between Karachi-Lahore and Faisalabad-Karachi.

The prime minister was also informed that in the trade facilitation sector, a number of measures have been taken, which have resulted in substantial reduction in congestion at the Karachi Port and Port Qasim. This includes elimination of Customs examination of Afghan transit cargo at the Karachi Port and transhipment allowed on inspection basis only. The National Logistics Cell (NLC) has been permitted, in addition to Pakistan Railways, to carry Afghan transit cargo. The CBR, in collaboration with Pakistan Railways and NLC, is proposing to set up a multi- agency transit station at Jamrud. The elimination of de-stuffing of transit cargo at Peshawar and its exemption from examination has been planned. Moreover, all Customs procedures have been automated.