PESHAWAR
Senior Vice President, Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) and Central Vice President, All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCCA), Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi has welcomed the re-launching of Goods-in-Transit-to-Afghanistan (GITTA) train after the service had remained close for a period of seven years.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, Sarhadi has expressed the hope that federal government will withdraw SRO 121 and besides container cargo, the transportation of loose cargo to Afghanistan would also be allowed. The steps will enable the handover of empty containers in Karachi to shipping line so 70 per cent Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) goods that had shifted to Chabahar Port will also be attracted back through Pakistan to Afghanistan.
He said that restoration of GITTA train was the long-standing demand of SCCI and Frontier Customs Agents Group (FCAG), saying the decision has been hailed by all stakeholders including customs clearing, forwarding, border and shipping agents and Afghan traders.
Sarhadi, who is also the chairman of SCCI standing committee on Railway and Dry Port said that the wise decision of the federal government will provide cheap, secure and trustful goods transportation facility, besides earning millions of rupees revenue for railway, will also strengthen the provincial economy.
He also called for the operation of cargo train for exports from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the wagons coming to Peshawar with GITTA train have been returning to Karachi empty. Therefore, they should be utilized for the transportation of export-bound goods to Karachi.
He was of the view that the abolition of SRO 121 and allowing of open transportation of goods along with containers will also help abolish detention charges and exports/importers will get better facilities.
