ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: The import value of Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) has surged by 50 per cent in the first quarter of the financial year 2002-03, over the corresponding year of 2001-02.

Official figurers, released by the Central Board of Revenue here on Tuesday, showed the import value of ATT during July-Sept period of the current financial year stood at Rs4.5 billion against Rs3 billion over the corresponding year, showing an increase of 50 per cent.

A senior customs official attributed the rise in ATT to massive booking of orders by the Afghan importers.

According to the official, keen interest of the Afghan importers to take active part in the reconstruction of the war-torn country following the assurance of security being given to them by the new Afghan government, the import value of ATT would further grow in the coming months.

He said that in case more items were withdrawn from the negative list, then the volume of the Afghan Transit Trade would further increase in the preceding months.

Currently, major items transit trade were sugar, plastic goods, blankets, heaters, padlocks, battery cells, pencils, lighters, etc.