Daily Times

KHYBER AGENCY: Due to imposition of new import rules, import of fruits, vegetables and dry-fruits from Afghanistan to Pakistan were halted at Torkham border that caused an inconvenience at the border beside a in addition to a huge financial loss to the national exchequer.

This was stated by President clearing agent association, Torkham Haji Hayatullah Shinwari while addressing a press conference held at the local press club on Wednesday.

Flanked by senior-vice President Haji Tahir, vice-President Haji Wahid and others said in terms of import duties of groceries and dry fruits three million rupees were added to the national exchequer but the custom office, Torkham on pretext of producing the documents including (1) Import permit (2) Afaxation certificate (3) Quairtine certificate (4) Import release order and (5) Certificate of origin, suspended clearance of the import of the commodities.

“Approximately 50 trailers loaded with the fruits, vegetables and dry fruit are stuck at the border for the last four days which is a financial loss to the importers”, Shinwari remarked.

There was no facility available at Torkham from the departments that issued the above mentioned certificates so how could the clearing agents manage to produce it, he questioned.

The custom agents’ association officer bears were of the view that the fresh conditions that were set by the custom house without taking confidence into the association would not only close down clearing business at the border but would also suffer Pak-Afghan bilateral trading relations.

They urged the government and custom department to adopt relaxation policies for imports of groceries from Afghanistan because in case of restriction, the Afghan government would also repay in same coin.

They threatened that if the newly introduced regulations were not revise within one week than they would have no option but to completely suspend import exports activities at Torkham border.

Published in Daily Times, January 18^th 2018.