Pakistan is likely to abolish negative list for Afghanistan and waive guarantee requirement for items not prone to diversion, well informed sources told Business Recorder. These issues were discussed in detail at sixth meeting of Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Co-ordination Authority (APTTCA) held in Islamabad.
The meeting was jointly inaugurated by Shehzad Arbab, Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Mozammil Shinwari, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Commerce & Industries, Afghanistan. Both the co-chairs of APTTCA highlighted the significance of bilateral trade and transit trade and reiterated resolve of the leadership of the two countries to enhance bilateral trade to USD five billion and to further facilitate transit trade. According to sources, the meeting reviewed implementation status of the fifth APTTCA meeting and expressed satisfaction over its implementation.
After detailed deliberations, the meeting agreed as follows: (i) it was agreed that in accordance with Article 50 of APTTA, the provisions of the present Agreement shall be revised and amended appropriately with a view to further facilitating the transit trade. Both sides agreed in principle that the provisions of TIR Convention - to which both Pakistan and Afghanistan are signatories - will be incorporated in APTTA to the extent possible. In this connection Afghanistan will share a draft text of the amended APTTA with Pakistan by March 15, 2016. The draft amendments will be deliberated in the 7th APTTCA meeting to be hosted by Afghanistan in the last week of March, 2016; (ii) a joint committee comprising of representatives from Ministry of Transportation Afghanistan and Ministries of Communications and Railways Pakistan, Customs, Ministries of Commerce from the two countries and Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber shall be constituted to discuss the issues relating to visas, road permits and guarantees for the implementation of TIR system in both countries and to address future issues in this regard. The recommendations of the committee shall be sent to the focal points of the APTTCA for consideration. The first meeting of the committee will be held in second week of March 2016 in Karachi; (iii) both sides shall organise a pilot run of Afghan trucks from Torkham and Chaman up to Wahgah carrying Afghan exports to India and Pakistani trucks from Torkham and Chaman carrying Pakistani exports to Sher Khan Bandar (Tajikistan''s border). The Afghan trucks will be allowed to carry Pakistani exports to Afghanistan on their return journey. Similarly, Pakistani trucks will be allowed to carry Tajik and Central Asian export cargo on their return journey to Pakistan; (iv) for the movements of trucks in the territory of the two countries, Afghan side proposed finalising bilateral transport agreement. The Pakistan side agreed to provide the draft agreement through diplomatic channels within one month; (v) Afghan side agreed to issue WeBOC user IDs for non-commercial importers of Afghanistan through its Ministry of Commerce and Industries. Pakistan Customs also handed over the list of non-commercial importers to Afghan Customs; (vi) Pakistan agreed to consider Afghanistan''s proposal to waive guarantee requirements for items not prone to diversion; (vii) Pakistan agreed to consider the Afghan proposal to abolish the current negative list for Afghan Transit Trade; (viii) the meeting of Working Group on Customs will be hosted by Pakistan in Karachi in the 2nd Week of March, 2016; (ix) Afghanistan agreed to address the issue of pendency of T-1 Certificates on priority basis. In this regard, the Afghan side agreed to deploy more staff and resources and hold regular meetings with Pakistan Customs to review its progress. It was also agreed that hard copies of the T-1 Certificates uploaded online in WeBOC system by Afghan Customs shall not be required by Pakistan Customs; (x) Afghan side''s request for change in destination of transit cargo from Torkham to Chaman and vice versa, filed by the Afghan traders was agreed to by Pakistan Customs; (xi) it was agreed that both sides shall organise awareness workshops on customs procedures and systems for both private and public sector in their respective countries; and (xii) for transit through railways, Pakistan Railways informed that work is in progress to operationlise Azakhel Railway Dry port, Peshawar, to be completed by December 2016. It was agreed that in the meantime FBR shall consider the request of Pakistan Railways to allow pilot run at Peshawar Cantt station for trans-shipment of Afghan transit goods. Also Pakistan side shall examine the Afghan proposal for allowing containerised Afghan exports transit through Railways.
It was also decided that 7th Meeting of APTTCA will be held in last week of March, 2016 in Kabul for which the Afghan side will convey the exact dates through diplomatic channels. Commerce Minister, Khurram Dastgir last week stated that Pakistan has a different basis of trade with Iran and Afghanistan, adding that any change in trade regime is difficult. He said Pakistan is facilitating transit trade with Afghanistan under APTTA fully and expressed disappointment over the Afghan government for sending the draft of PTA to national security advisor.