LANDI KOTAL: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Customs Collector Qurban Ali Mohmand said that implementation of the new border management policy has adversely affected bilateral trade with Afghanistan via Torkham.
According to details, talking to a delegation of customs clearing agents and local traders during his visit to Landi Kotal, he said that the annual volume of Pakistani exports to Afghanistan reduced from US $1.5 billion to $1.2 billion owing to restrictions imposed on Afghan traders and transporters.
“We had earlier set a target of $2.5 billion exports to Afghanistan for the year 2016-17 but tension at Torkham border over the construction of a gate at Pakistan side and imposition of strict travel restrictions on Afghans hampered trade between the two countries,” he added.
However, Qurban Ali insisted that it was a temporary loss and authorities concerned were striving to jack up the annual trade volume with Central Asian States and Afghanistan up to $5 billion.
“We are in contact with Federal Board of Revenue, Asian Development Bank and National Logistic Cell for construction of a modern customs terminal at Torkham to help in enhancing trade ties with our neighboring country,” he said.
Qurban said that the new terminal would be equipped with modern facilities. He hoped that a project for setting up a modern custom dry port would be approved in the next week that would not only increase bilateral trade but would also provide job opportunities to the local tribesmen.
In reply to the demands of the local clearing agents, Qurban Ali promised to take up the matter of abolishing unnecessary Khasadar and Levies check posts at Peshawar-Torkham Highway with Khyber Agency political administration.
He also assured the clearing agents that bank timings would be extended and more licenses for creation of customs clearing agencies would be issued to local traders.
Meanwhile, the political administration has restricted all the ‘proxy’ khasadars from performing duty at the Torkham border.
A statement issued from the office of Landi Kotal assistant political agent said that all regular khasadars were directed to immediately report to their respective duties at Torkham border.
The statement said that the step was taken in accordance with the new border management policy. No proxy or substitute khasadar would be allowed to perform duty near the border crossing, it added.