Torkham border: APTMA urges government to ensure 'release' of cotton-laden trucks

All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) is reportedly pressing federal government for "release" of more than 100 trucks loaded with imported raw cotton at Torkham border from Afghanistan and Central Asian States (CAS), well-informed sources told Business Recorder. This issue was discussed a couple of days ago in the Textile Division, which was attended by the officials of Textile Division, Ministry of National Food Security and Research and Aptma representatives.
The Department of Plant Protection (DPP), an arm of Ministry of National Food Security and Research, has also pleaded that raw cotton loaded in the trucks is American cotton, import of which is not allowed through the Afghan border. However, APTMA maintains that under the rules American cotton has been defined as 2(b) ie all cotton produced in part of western hemisphere (North, South and Central America and adjoining Islands).
The Import Policy Order (IPO) 2016 states that the terms of the border trade agreement will apply in such cases. The border trade agreement with Afghanistan states that the phytosanitary requirements as notified by FAO will apply. The FAO notified requirements do not limit import at only Karachi although they do require an import permit to be obtained.
Aptma has requested that the terms and conditions for import from Afghanistan and CAS may be amended to allow traditional trade with these countries to continue for this season at least. The Association has pleaded that it is not possible to route this cotton via Karachi and plant protection will have to develop facilities and procedures at Torkham which will require time.
The Association further stated that the matter is not only of a commercial nature but could also have serious consequences on our foreign relations as the Afghans have blocked our exports to CAS and Afghanistan pending resolution of the matter.
The government has been requested that current consignments stuck at the border maybe released through an executive order and plant protection department be instructed to allow the trucks passage. Previously, the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet had allowed release of 180 trucks of raw cotton stuck at Torkham boarder as one time permission, but APTMA members have repeated their plea and again put pressure on the government to release more than 100 trucks like in the past. The sources said, after detailed discussion, the meeting decided to prepare a joint summary for the ECC so that raw cotton trucks are allowed to enter into Pakistan after paying duties.