PESHAWAR, Nov 3: Continued bombing in Afghanistan by US planes since Oct 7, left sharp imprints on trade with the war ravaged country via NWFP as the Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) experienced major slow down during the last month, according to official sources.

Goods transported to Afghanistan via NWFP under the ATT recorded sharp decrease as, in all, items valued Rs 420.54 million were cleared from Peshawar dry port for their onward delivery inside Afghanistan during October.

The goods transported to Afghanistan r  appeared to be Rs 359 m less in October than the total value of the goods that were transported in September 2001. Similarly, the Rs 420 million goods transported in Oct, last, appeared to be some Rs 330 million less than the total value of the Rs 750.92 million goods that were transported, under the ATT, in 2000.

“If situation remains the same for the next couple of months, ATT is likely to come to a complete halt,” said a senior officer.

The total volume of goods transported from July 1, to Oct 31, 2001, also appears to be slightly lower than the corresponding period of last year.

This time round, goods valued Rs 2807.68 million have so far been transported, under the ATT, from the Peshawar dry port to Afghanistan recording a decline of Rs 165 million in comparison with the corresponding period of last year.

During the period between July 1 to Oct 31, 2000, a total of Rs 2972.58 million goods had been provided passage, under the ATT, to Afghanistan via NWFP.

However, businessmen and official circles, appeared skeptical about the trade under ATT after next couple of months when the goods presently under pipe line - at Karachi and Peshawar - completely get transported to Afghanistan.

The investors, said the importers, were not ready to take risk of placing orders under the ATT due to discouraging state of affairs following the international shipping companies increased their charges, insurance companies enhanced their rates of insurance  and international carriers stopped their  flight operations to and from Peshawar.