KHYBER: Clearing agents halted the customs clearance of trade goods, both import and export, in protest against the new policy implemented recently by the authorities.

The protesting clearing agents argued that the customs officials were insisting on being provided with all details of vehicles bringing in import items from Afghanistan prior to reaching the Torkham border, and without being weighed or undergoing electronic scanning.

They said that they could not abide by the new rule as the customs authorities could implicate them in seizure of any contraband if found in any container later during electric scanning.

They said that customs staff had only a few days ago recovered ammunition from an import vehicle during the electronic scanning. They said that the customs officials were insisting on issuing a joint goods declaration (GD) copy to them after fulfilment of gate-in clearance, while they (the clearing agents) were insisting on the continuation of the previous system of goods clearance after weighing and scanning the vehicle, and then handing the GD copy for every examined vehicle to the customs officials.

Meanwhile, customs officials at Torkham said the new system was introduced to expedite the process of goods clearance and avoid traffic congestion at the border point, alongside saving time of both the customs staff and clearing agents.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2024