Import of 33 items from Afghanistan: 30 percent increase in value addition proposed

Model Customs Collectorate Peshawar has proposed 30 percent increase in value addition on the import of 33 items including fresh fruits, dry fruits, vegetables, herbals and hides of cow & buffalos from Afghanistan. While Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KPCCI), Frontier Customs Agents Group and stakeholders of business interest with Afghanistan had demanded 10 percent increase in this regard.
The proposals were exchanged in a meeting of the Local Valuation Committee held here with Deputy Collector (Customs) Torkham, Dr Farid in the chair. Those who attended were included chairman, Frontier Customs Agents Group and Director, Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PAJCCI), Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, Faiz Mohammad Faizi, Member Value Addition Committee, Khalid Shehzad, Deputy Collector (Customs) Kohat, Dr Junaid Mehmood, Assistant Collector, Torkham, Omair Mehmood, Principal Appraiser, Shahid Akbar, Appraiser, Javed Iqbal and other customs officials.
The meeting was told that the local value addition committee had approved 10 percent valuation per annum on the import of fresh fruit, dry fruit, vegetables, herbals and hides of cows and buffalos from Afghanistan. But, for the last three years no increase was made in the valuation. Therefore, this year it should be increased by 30 percent. The local business community expressed their reservations on the proposal and said that one time 30 percent increase will trigger smuggling and effect bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan. They demanded the increase in value addition by 10 per cent and called for the inclusion senior customs officials authorise for fixation of the prices of goods in the local valuation committee.
Addressing the meeting, chairman, Frontier Customs Agents Group, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi and other members expressed the hope that the committee will ensure the implementation of this proposal and will play its due role in the resolution of the challenges in bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.