Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has allowed the import and transit movement of Afghan bulk cargoes of wheat, sugar and fertilizers at Gwadar port. According to the official document, the decision was taken on the requests of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PAJCCI), Gwadar International Terminals Limited and other stakeholders.
It said that stakeholders kept approaching the MoC, requesting to allow the import of Afghan bulk cargoes at the Gwadar Port and onward transit to Afghanistan in sealable trucks for long.
Later, in order to verify either the permission to allow the import of Afghan bulk cargoes at the Gwadar Port and onward transit to Afghanistan in sealable trucks is admissible or not, the MoC has examined their plea in light of the Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), 2010 and found that Article 21(1)(c) of the APTTA, 2010 allows transit of "bulk cargo (not imported in containers - like ship load) in open trucks or other transport units.
Therefore, in view of the mentioned provisions, the petitions of the stakeholders and for the sake efficient and cost-effective operationalization of the Gwadar Port and the Western-Corridor of the CPEC, the MoC has allowed import of Afghan bulk-cargoes of wheat, sugar and fertilizers at the Gwadar Port and onward transit to Afghanistan in bonded carrier, insured and sealable trucks having a tracking device installed on them. In addition, the customs authorities have also been directed by the MoC to take necessary and cost efficient measures to ensure the en route security of the cargoes.
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