Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) has increased to $ 2.3 billion from $1 billion, due to tensions between Iran and the United States.
Speaking at a press conference held at Customs House here, Dr. Sarfaraz Ahmad Warraich, Director General, Directorate General Transit Trade (DGTT) along with DGTT Director Zaiba Bashir said that Pakistan handled around 120K to 140K ATT containers per annum, which is around 30 percent of total imports of Afghanistan.
He said that the volume of ATT was roaming around $1billion during past five years, which has now increased to US$2.3 billion in FY 2018-19, due to deteriorating relations between Iran and US.
Similarly, the figures of Afghan exports, transiting from Pakistan, are stood at Rs. 38 billion in 2018-19, he maintained.
Replying to a question, he said that the department would consider enforcing the requirement of financial guarantee in the transit movement of exports goods from Afghanistan in order to provide protection to ATT movement.
Furthermore, he said that Pakistan was going to restrict the movement of ATT exports cargos in open trucks by February 1, 2020 in compliance with provisions of Article 21(l)(a) to (d) of Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement, 2010 and others relevant SROs.
From the said date, Pakistan will not allow the transit movement of exports goods from Afghanistan in containers, lacking international specifications, he maintained
He said that the decision was made in order to facilitate the trade and smooth flow of export goods from Afghanistan in transit whether through seaports or land customs stations across Pakistan.
DG said that the movement of all export goods except fresh fruits and vegetables from Afghanistan in transit whether by seaports or land customs stations across Pakistan, to be taken place in containers of international specification from February 1, 2020.
Moreover, the transit cargo, being transported in containers of international specifications/open trucks, will also be secured through tracking device, installed by the tracking company licensed by the FBR, along with installation of seals by the PCCSS staff of Pakistan Customs.
Apart from fresh fruits and vegetables, the transit movement of all other cargo/non-perishable cargo including dry fruits, medicinal herbs and spices etc will only be allowed only in containers of international specifications by February 1, 2020 and all vehicles carrying containerized/open truck cargo are also subjected to tracking and monitoring.
Commenting on the court's directives to release all 250 ATT containers of sugar, he said that DGTT with the approval of the FBR was filing an appeal in the apex court against the decision.
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