Pakistani customs authorities are waiting for the response of Afghanistan for issuance of the Afghan Customs Clearance Document (ACCD) to verify that the transit goods exported from Pakistan have actually reached Afghanistan. Sources told Business Recorder here on Monday that as per Export Policy Order (EPO) 2009, copy of ACCD is required as a proof/ verification that goods exported from Pakistan have reached Afghanistan.
The ACCD has been considered as an authentic document to ensure that the transit goods have reached their destination. It is for the Customs Department to implement it according to their satisfaction and eliminate chances of misuse for the processing of duty drawback claims filed by exporters. However, on the request of Ministry of Commerce Commercial Counselor, Embassy of Pakistan, Kabul, Afghanistan has raised the issue with Afghanistan authorities to instruct their customs offices to issue ACCD (Gumrik) in at least duplicate.
In this regard, the Ministry of Commerce has informed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) that the response of Government of Afghanistan is still awaited on ACCD. Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul had informed Afghanistan that Pakistani companies are facing difficulties in claiming duty drawback because Afghanistan Customs is issuing one copy of Afghan Customs Clearance Document instead of two.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Afghanistan is requested that Director General Customs, Ministry of Finance, Government of Afghanistan, may be advised to issue computerised ACCD in duplicate or photo copy duly attested by the Afghan Custom Torkham to eliminate difficulties of Pakistani exporters. The Embassy of Pakistan avails itself of the opportunity to renew the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Afghanistan, the assurances of its highest consideration, Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul added.