The government of Pakistan is constructing a big and state-of-the-art Border Custom Complex at Torkham border to enhance trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs) by speeding the clearance of goods. "The state-of-the-art border complex is being constructed at Torkham to improve facilities related to clearance of goods laden trucks crossing border to Afghanistan and CARs," informed Qurban Ali Khan, Collector Customs Peshawar.
The complex, he said covering 700 kanals land would be comprised custom and immigration offices, two-way custom and immigration terminals, checking and scanning plazas for pedestrians, passenger and cargo vehicles with other infrastructure. The complex, he said would be the first of its kind in the country, which would make border crossing systematic, fully computerised and augment the trade volume on the historic route.
"Border Custom Complex is a step towards achievement of goals set under CAREC (Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation), a partnership of 10 countries and six multilateral development partners working to promote development through cooperation, leading to accelerated economic growth and poverty reduction," he continued.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing dollar 300 million loan for execution of the project on soft term basis to Pakistan while National Logistic Cell (NLC) is implementing the project. The project also include construction of similar border complex at Wagha post on Pak-India border and at Chaman in Balochistan, he said and added that presently work on Torkham is started. Presently he said NLC has acquired 700 kanal lands in Torkham and soon work on construction of Custom Complex would start. "Improved facilities will result in increase of trade volume between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics," observed Qurban Ali Khan.
Presently, he said, checking and clearing process at Torkhem was cumbersome due to lack of facilities and goods trucks takes around 24 hours in clearance for crossing the border towards Afghanistan. After construction of Custom Complex, the clearance time of goods vehicle will reduce from 24 hours to an hour only, he claimed. Similarly, advance scanners will also help in plugging the menace of smuggling as in the prevailing system of goods clearance, it is impossible for custom officials to fully check heavy vehicles.
Collector Customs Peshawar also disclosed that due to improvement in system like computerisation of official record, the revenue collection as custom duty has shown a remarkable increase of Rs 1102 million (dollar 110 million) in the last six months of 2015, from June to December. This increase in revenue collection is result of enhanced trade and after installation of modern system, the trade would flourish more.
"About 20 years ago in Custom department there was only one Collector for whole Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA and Gilgit Baltistan, but now there are around 1000 officials in the whole Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said Qurban Ali. Recently the Custom Collectorate has also deputed Assistant Collector at Parachinar (Kurram Agency) from where around 600 trucks are crossing border from Parachinar to Afghanistan on daily basis and similarly trucks are coming here loaded with goods including fresh fruit and other items, he continued. "The project can prove to be a game changer for business community of Pakistan in general and KP in particular," opined Zulfiqar Ali, President Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI).