KHYBER: Customs clearing agents and transporters have complained about the persistent technical issues with the electronic scanning machine operated by the National Logistic Cell for imported goods at the Torkham border crossing, claiming the issue is hindering Pak-Afghan trade.

They told Dawn that despite their repeated requests for resolving the issue, the NLC was unresponsive.

Jamshed Khan, a customs clearing agent, complained that though the NLC charged vehicles taking goods to or from Afghanistan Rs8,000 each, it had failed to ensure the smooth functioning of the scanning machine, to their satisfaction.

He said that the machine’s poor quality often led to inaccurate readings about the container’s contents.

Customs clearing agents and transporters complain NLC unresponsive despite requests

“The scanning machine’s faulty readings pose a significant security risk, as it often fails to accurately detect items inside a container,” he said.

Mr Khan insisted that the matter was taken up with NLC officials many times, but to no avail.

He said that the faulty machine delayed scanning causing traffic congestion at the already overcrowded import and export terminals of the Torkham border crossing.

“The problem also causes significant delays in scanning export goods, as the NLC diverts import vehicles to the export scanning machine, overburdening it,” he insisted.

Another clearing agent, Gulab Shinwari, called for the installation of a modern, high-tech scanning machine at the import terminal.

He said that the NLC should immediately remove all hurdles to Pak-Afghan trade via Torkham.

Mr Shinwari alleged that NLC officials often made excuses and falsely claimed to be in contact with Chinese technicians to fix the issue.

“In the last one week, the machine broke down three times, troubling both travellers and transporters, who suffered financial losses over delay in the delivery of goods,” he said.

The clearing agent said that the NLC’s failure to ensure early completion of work on the Torkham customs terminal forced transporters to deposit parking fees without having the parking facility.

COMPENSATION: Elders of the Neekikhel sub-tribe of Zakhakhel in Landi Kotal tehsil here has demanded their “due share in compensation” for their land provided for the construction of a rest house near the Shpula Stupa.

The demand was made during a jirga that met here on Friday with Shakir Afridi in the chair.

The participants gave the administration the June 11 ultimatum for the payment of compensation and warned if the demand wasn’t met, they would block work on the rest house.

The jirga members insisted that their tribe had reached an agreement with the district administration over payments for the rest house land in 2018 but the money had yet to be given to them.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2024