PESHAWAR: The business community has asked for expediting the clearance of shipments at Azakhel dry port and removal of hurdles in the Pak-Afghan bilateral and transit trade.

A delegation of business community headed by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fazal Moqeem Khan made the demands during a meeting with Chief Collector Customs, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Jamil Nasir here on Friday.

The delegation presented comprehensive proposals to remove hurdles in Pak-Afghan bilateral and transit trade, according to a statement.

The participants agreed to keep close coordination for solution to these issues.

The proposals also included speeding up the consignments clearance process at the Azakhel dry port, making Peshawar dry port functional and addressing the issues related to the cross-border trade.

SCCI senior vice-president Abdul Jalil Jan, former president Faiz Mohammad Faizi, members of the chamber’s executive committee Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, Aftab Iqbal and Ashfaq Ahmad, were part of the delegation.

The meeting was also attended by collector customs (appraisement) Mateen Alam, collector customs (prevention) Ziaul Shams and additional collector customs, Torkham, Shakir Mohammad.

Mr Moqeem apprised the meeting of the traders’ apprehensions about the slow process of goods clearance, and hurdles in Pak-Afghan mutual and transit trade.

He stressed the need for strengthening collaboration between the business committee and customs department to address all issues with mutual initiatives.

The chief collector customs issued instructions to officials concerned for addressing grievances of the business community.

Mr Nasir said that the customs department was proactively taking steps for facilitating cross-border trade and speeding up consignments’ clearance process through use of modern technology.

He emphasised establishing strong contacts and holding regular meetings with SCCI to address cross-border trade and export-related issues promptly.

The meeting was informed that clearance process of many goods consignments was delayed owing to non-filing of goods documents (GDs). Therefore, the meeting asked traders to immediately file GDs to complete clearance of the pending shipments forthwith.

Mr Nasir asked the customs squads to carry out information-based action and directed them to wear uniform during the duty hours.

Furthermore, he said an online monitoring system of customs squads would be launched at Model Customs House here. He said that stern action would be taken against the officials if they were found involved in any kind of corruption.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2024