ISLAMABAD, July 15: Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood on Monday emphasized the need for greater volume of goods transactions via rail/road routes under the bilateral agreement with Iran.

The minister was presided over a meeting in which strategies for boosting road/rail trade with Iran and Central Asian Republics were discussed. He also highlighted the cost effectiveness and economy of time for the traders on both sides. The possibilities of establishing a dry port at “Taftan” on experimental basis were deliberated in depth.

Dawood was given a detailed briefing on the planned dry port at Taftan by representative of National Logistic Cell (NLC) Brig Liaqat Rashid.

The port will provide a “zero line operation area” to importers and exporters where trucks of both countries can exchange goods without paying any duty.

The port is also designed to provide immigration, documentation counter and rest facilities. Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) has been asked to provide hotel facilities.

Like all other countries of the world all import formalities will be completed at Taftan but for exports, Quetta dry port can also be used.

The minister was also apprised of the interim arrangements which are being implemented under the instructions of Ministry of Communication according to which from June 1, 2002, all road related import/export is being handled by NLC dry port Quetta and all rail trade by Railway dry port, Quetta for an initial period of six months.

From December 1, 2002, Taftan dry port will start functioning on experimental basis to facilitate importers and exporters.

Razak instructed the CBR and Railway officials to work out all relevant figures of export/import through rail/road routes on Iranian border and present them in the next meeting.

Traders and representatives of Quetta Chamber of Commerce apprised the minister about their problems.