Pakistan's customs officials have agreed to a proposal of Afghan importers to waive demurrage imposed on Afghan transit goods lying at ports, in case where there has been a considerable delay in processing of refund of demurrage charges under Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA).
Sources told Business Recorder here on Sunday that the customs authorities of Pakistan have taken a number of steps to facilitate clearance of Afghan transit consignments under the APTTA. The Afghan side highlighted delays in processing the refund of demurrage incurred on the transit goods under the APTTA.
Afghanistan had requested that port authorities in Pakistan be directed to expedite refund requests filed by the Afghan traders and waive, simultaneously, the additional demurrage entailed due to delay in grant of waiver. The Pakistan side agreed to take up the matter for complete waiver with the competent authorities through the concerned ministry.
The Afghan side informed Pakistan's customs authorities that a large number of containers were pending with the Pakistan railways for onwards transit to Afghanistan. Due to technical difficulties, Pakistan Railways was unable to transport these consignments. It was agreed that option would be provided to the Afghan traders for shipment of these containers through bonded carriers for onwards journey to Afghanistan, under customs escort.
Afghan officials have informed the Pakistani customs department that the provision of the APTTA required bank guarantee for Afghan trucks to enter Pakistan to lift the transit goods. They further claimed that the banks in Afghanistan were not willing to provide bank guarantees for the transport goods. Both sides have also agreed to consider reduction in the threshold of bank guarantees for transport units from 25 percent to 10 percent (in case of four or more vehicles) as a precondition for entering the territory of other party under the provisions of the APTTA.
The Pakistani side agreed to hold consultation with Pakistani banks operating in Afghanistan to consider issuing bank guarantees to Afghan transport units on urgent basis, sources said. The Afghan side had requested that the transit time under the Types A and B Temporary Admission Documents under the APTTA may be enhanced to 30 days from the present 15 days. It was agreed that this issue would be further discussed during the next meeting of the sub-group scheduled in Karachi.
According to sources, Afghan traders further raised the issue that the bonded carriers authorised to transport Afghan transit goods from Pakistani ports were demanding high freight charges. Moreover, the bonded carriers did not have the required engine capacity to negotiate high altitude terrain. Resultantly, large numbers of Pakistani bonded trucks, carrying Afghanistan transit goods, were stranded at Peshawar. Pakistani customs have taken decision to ensure speedy clearance of consignments under the APTTA.
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