PESHAWAR: The Pakistan-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) on Monday voiced concerns of the business community on the new Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA).

A PAJCCI delegation, led by its Senior Vice President Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, met with Director Pakistan Transit Trade (ATT) Fayyaz Anwar, a statement said.

USAID representatives Hassun Bano Burki and Hassan Saqib Sheikh and officials of the Ministry of Commerce were also present on the occasion.

Mr Sarhadi said the business community welcomed the re-launch of the Goods in Transit to Afghanistan (GITA) train service.

The community called for the abolition of SRO 121 with immediate effect and seeks permission for sending loose cargoes through railways to Afghanistan, he said.

Allowing loose cargo will help handover of empty containers in Karachi to the shipping company, he added. He said seventy per cent of Afghan Transit Trade goods exports had shifted to Bandar Abbas and Chabahar.

Mr. Sarhadi, who is also chairman of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (SCCI) Standing Committee on Railways and Dry Port, also demanded launch of export cargo train from Peshawar Dry Port.The delegation proposed provision of bonded carrier facility, modern facilities at Peshawar Dry Port, minimising work load on existing dry port and activation of Aman Garh Dry Port at the earliest.

It also sought issuance of computerised licence copy to customs agents on the pattern of Karachi and constitution of separate Advisory Committee comprising representatives of the SCCI, Frontier Customs Agents Group, Collectorate Customs and other concerned authorities to work for the protection of joint interests.

The delegation requested the Collector Customs to allow transportation of goods stranded at Takhta Baig Check Posts due to overloading to Afghanistan.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2017