President of Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) Mian Zahid Hussain has urged that the Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) cargo should not be stopped illegally on way to Afghanistan. "The practice of impounding vehicles carrying ATT cargo in Balochistan on the pretext of smuggling has resulted in heavy losses to the business community and the trade can shift to Iran if immediate steps are not taken," he apprehended.
Mian Zahid said that authorities should ensure smooth flow of trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan lest it would further aggravate the already fragile relations. "ATT cargo is thoroughly checked in Karachi. The containers are sealed and a tracking device is installed after full verification of the documents," he said, lamenting that these containers were stopped in Balochistan by the Frontier Corps and impounded for as long as 12 days without any reason.
In this regard, the Directorate of Afghan Transit Trade of the FBR has written a letter to the FC authorities in which, it is said that FC was assigned the anti-smuggling task on December 1, 2010 by the FBR through SRO 1090 (1)/2010 and the same was withdrawn on July 22, 2014 through SRO 681(1)/2014.
The letter further said that whenever the services of the FC were required, it would be asked for it in written form under section 7 of the Customs Act. It has asked the FC officials to stop taking actions unilaterally on the pretext of smuggling lest it would damage the trade. He also urged the officials to resolve this matter in consultation with the Chaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.