The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked the Federal Board of Revenue to put in place a foolproof monitoring and control mechanism for transporting trade cargo through land route to India. Sources told Business Recorder here on Saturday that Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed concern on the loopholes in the existing transportation system of trade cargo to India.
Ministry has specifically mentioned about the bottlenecks in export of cement to India through land route. In this connection, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has written a letter to FBR for immediate action to put in place an error-free transportation system for taking trade cargo to India.
According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the cement is one of important items of Pakistan's export to India. The government's efforts to normalise trade with India could only be result-oriented if procedure for export (and import) of goods through Wagha, Attari border is streamlined through effective control and monitoring mechanism. The investigation report received from the office of the Collectorate of Customs Lahore highlights many shortcomings in the existing system. The Ministry of Railways cannot absolve itself of the responsibility for smooth trade operation.
It is required to work in collaboration with the Customs authorities and other relevant department for a strict monitoring and control in transportation of trade cargo to India, Ministry of Foreign Affairs added. Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also referred to the investigation report on export of cement to India prepared by Federal Board of Revenue (Custom Wing) O.M No C.No 3 (5)EP/08-Cement-151089 dated 23 November 2012. Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also referred to the Ministry of Railway's U.O. No 1-3/2006T-I dated 16 November, 2012 regarding seizure of 101 K.G of Heroin.