Trade remains halted at Torkham border for third day

Negotiations between agents, customs collector fall through

LANDI KOTAL: Trade at the Torkham border between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained on pause for a third day on Thursday after negotiations between the customs clearance agents and the assistant collector on new regulations on the import of items failed to make any headway.

The issue arose after the government imposed a new paperless goods declaration processing system (WeBOC). However, an association of the customs clearing agents refused to accept the system, bringing trade to a halt at the key border point.

The All Torkham Customs’ Clearing Agents Association (ATCCAA) has categorically rejected new regulations and have warned of extending the strike unless their demands are met.

ATCCAA President Zarqeeb Shinwari explained to The Express Tribune that the new regulations require installation of modern facilities such as uninterrupted internet connections, sustainable electricity and staff to handle the multiple counters which the customs authority lacked.

“Our demands are that the federal government should impose the same rules and regulations as those applied at other border points of the country,” Shinwari said.

Moreover, he said that special gate passes should be issued to agents who are supposed to cross over the border multiple times a day. Further, a container should be allowed to bring in a mix of items like at the Kharlachi border in the Kurram Tribal District and the Ghulam Khan border in North Waziristan Tribal District.

Shinwari further demanded that the border authority should dispose of the contravention cases filed against 200 agents and the rules of fumigation should end.

Customs agent’ Mirajuddin Shinwari asked the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the district administration to change the export module into an import module. Around 150 trucks loaded with pulses and other edible items have been stranded on the Torkham border for a month after the customs authority introduced new fumigation regulations which have been rejected by importers and customs clearance officers at the border.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2018.