Transit trade: DG Trade will be empowered to carry out end-to-end operations

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will fully empower Directorate General of Transit Trade for carrying out end-to-end operations of transit trade including cargo transportation, en-route monitoring and enforcement and border terminal operations.

Sources told Business Recorder here on Monday that the FBR is reviewing different proposals to expedite clearances of Afghan transit goods in line with the directions of the Prime Minister.

The FBR is also reviewing a proposal to expedite clearances of Afghan transit goods by timely segregation and earmarking of cargo by terminal operators. The FBR is evaluating and, if practicable, will implement a mechanism for filing of Goods Declaration through Master Bill of Lading instead of House Bill of Lading 48 hours prior to approval of vessel and timely segregation and earmarking of cargo by terminal operators for examination.

The FBR is also optimally utilizing three scanners donated by JICA at KICT, PICT and Port Qasim, sources said. A detailed plan will be devised and presented for improving port functioning and reducing cost of trade to ensure low-cost, transparent and efficient handling of cargoes.

In the past, the Federal Board of Revenue and the Directorate General of Transit Trade have taken important steps to regulate transit trade, which has minimized the chances of en-route pilferage from Karachi/Port Qasim to Torkham and Chaman. For example, scanning and examining images are uploaded in the WeBOC system which can be matched at Torkham and Chaman for cross matching before crossing border.

Trackers are installed on containers and vehicles and are monitored on their journey on the designated routes through Pakistan up to borders. In case of any alert on the way, mobile squads check containers en route.

Such containers are again examined at borders before they cross into Afghanistan. Afghanistan customs has online access to the incoming transit cargo into Afghanistan. They acknowledge the cargo online. They can inform Pakistan in case of non-arrival of any transit cargo in Afghanistan.