Pakistan has decided to allow Afghan trucks carrying fresh and dry fruits up to Wagha border on temporary basis subject to letter of guarantee in each case to be issued by the Afghan of Transport and Civil Aviation, sources close to Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce told Business Recorder on Saturday.
The sources said during the two-day talks, under the umbrella of Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Co-ordination Authority (APTTCA), held in Islamabad on October 11-12 in Islamabad, the Afghan side complained that banks in Pakistan and Afghanistan were not willing to provide bank guarantees, and Afghan trucks were not allowed beyond Peshawar and Chaman because of this issue. Pakistani trucks, they said, could go to any destination inside Afghanistan.
The Afghan side proposed that instead of bank guarantee, the option of issuing bilateral Carnet de Passage, as proposed during customs to customs meeting, may be considered by both sides to resolve the issue. However, the Afghan side requested Pakistan that till such an arrangement was finalised, their trucks carrying fresh/ dry fruits may be allowed to Wagha.
The sources said Pakistani negotiators responded that the basic purpose of this guarantee was to ensure the safe journey of transport vehicles back to their respective countries. The Afghan delegation stated that they would submit a proposal on the mechanism for issuance of bilateral carnet de passage for consideration by Pakistan side which was welcomed by Pakistani negotiators.
According to sources, Pakistan assured that once Afghanistan's proposal is received, it would be examined by the Government of Pakistan and response would be conveyed to Afghan side. However, it was proposed that the mechanism of cash guarantee may also be considered by the two sides.
"Pakistan has acceded to the Afghan request to allow their trucks carrying fresh/ dry fruits up to Wagha subject to production of letter of guarantee in each case by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, Government of Afghanistan to the effect that the vehicles would return to Afghanistan within the stipulated time," the sources added.
The Afghan side shared draft rules of business for APTTCA with Pakistan. The Pakistan side stated that the draft rules are being examined in consultation with relevant Ministries and response would be conveyed to Afghan side on completion of consultative process. Recalling decisions of customs to customs meeting held on September 29 last year in Islamabad regarding the validity period of temporary admission documents, both sides approved the extension of period from 15-30 days in case of type A of temporary admission document.
Both sides also agreed to move their respective competent fora for approval of amendment in the relevant provision of APTTA 2010. The Afghan side stated that the Ministry of Commerce and Industries has issued a notification to all concerned authorities of the Afghan government regarding transit routes agreed in APTTA.
On 'release of insurance guarantee', the Afghan side argued that T-1 Form (Izhar- Leek) should be accepted as GD by Pakistan Customs for release of insurance guarantee, however the Pakistani team employed a different argument. After detailed deliberations, it was agreed that the insurance guarantee submitted by Afghan importers will be released on the receipt of copy of T-1 issued and attested by Afghan customs, bearing cross reference of GD filed in Pakistan, along with a certificate issued by Afghan customs to the effect that the consignment, mentioned in the relevant T-1 Form, was through Torkhum and Spin Boldak in case of transit through Chamman.
These documents would be forwarded to respective customs stations in Torkham and Chaman on the Pakistani side for onward dispatch to office of departure in Karachi. In case goods transiting through Afghanistan and destined for Pakistan, the copy of GD issued by Pakistan customs at Torkham or Chaman will be the document for the release of insurance guarantee. Both sides agreed on the need to adhere to the timelines stipulated in APTTA for the release of insurance guarantee in letter and spirit. This mechanism would also be adopted for release of stuck up insurance guarantee, the sources concluded.