QUETTA: Ashraf Ali, Collector Model Customs Collectorate Quetta, left for Iran to participate in a Pak-Iran Customs border meeting.
According to details given by sources of Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Quetta that Ashraf Ali, Collector MCC Quetta, along with Additional Collector Zubair Shah and Deputy Collector Junaid Mehmud left for Iran via Taftan International Border to take part in the above said border-related meeting by road the other day (Wednesday).
The sources told Customs Today that the above said participants will attended the meeting at Mirjaveh Seistan Balochistan (IRAN) to discuss the border issues regarding the Customs Department.
Sources told CT that, on August 2017, Pakistan and Iran, during 5th Joint Border Trade Committee meeting held in Zahedan, have agreed to make combined efforts for fighting the challenges faced by the traders on both sides of the border.
Sources informed CT that Pakistani delegation from Balochistan had been headed by former Customs Collector Quetta Dr Saeed Jadoon with Industry and Trade Quetta President Haji Abdul Wadood Achakzai, Patron-In Chief Ghulam Farooq Khan, Juma Khan Badezai, Haji Abdur Rehman Shah Agha, Muhammad Ayoub, Haji Fateh Khan, Haji Zahir Achakzai and others.
The Iranian delegation was led by Sistan-Balochistan Governor Ali Ausath Hashmi who held fifth meeting of Joint Border Trade Committee.
Haji Abdul Wadood Achakzai, presenting minutes on behalf of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce, said the Balochistan traders wanted increase in the volume of trade with the neighbouring country. He said importers and exporters had raised the issues and difficulties in front of Iranian authorities which they have to face from time to time. He also demanded an increase for opening the Taftan-Gate timings.
Meanwhile, the Iranian delegation assured that timings of Taftan-Gate opening will not only be increased but implementation on the minutes of meeting will also be ensured. The delegations of both countries also expressed determination to make endeavours for achieving the targeted volume of trade between Pakistan and Iran which will further cement historical, culture and Islamic ties between both countries and provinces.