SCCI demands withdrawal of SOPs at Torkham border

Nearly 7,000 transit trade containers and trucks stuck at the border

PESHAWAR:

Traders in the province on Saturday demanded that the government withdraw standard operating procedures at Torkham to remove all hurdles in the way of Pakistan-Afghanistan mutual and transit trade.

This demand was presented by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Senior Vice President Shahid Hussain on Saturday during a meeting with Transit Trade Karachi Director General Raza Ahmad Khan, who met with a delegation of traders at the Model Customs House Peshawar.

While highlighting issues faced by customs clearing agents and the business community, Ziaul Haq Sarhadi said nearly 7,000 transit trade containers and trucks are stuck at the border due to the slow clearing process at the port.

As a result, the Pak-Afghan bilateral and transit trade has suffered greatly.

Further, he claimed that heavy fees are being charged from traders and exporters under demurrage and detention at the Karachi port which has been further exacerbated by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2020.