ISLAMABAD: The federal government has allowed the import of wheat, sugar and fertilisers at the Gwadar Port and onward transit to Afghanistan through bonded carriers- insured and sealable trucks having a tracking device.
The Ministry of Commerce (MoC), on the request of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), the Gwadar International Terminals Limited and other stakeholders, has issued an Office Memorandum (MO) titled ‘Implementation of the import and export policy orders through shipping procedure and instructions for operationalisation of the Gwadar Port’.
The ministry has been approached with the request to allow import of Afghan bulk cargo at the Gwadar Port and onward transit to Afghanistan through sealable trucks.
The petitions of all stakeholders have been examined in the light of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), 2010 Article 21(1)(c) of the APTTA, 2010 that allows transit of “bulk cargo (not imported in containers — like ship load) in open trucks or other transport units”, notification stated.
“In view of the above mentioned provisions of the APTTA, the petitions of stakeholders, and for the sake of efficient and cost-effective operationalisation of the Gwadar Port and the Western-Corridor of the CPEC, the import of Afghan bulk-cargo of wheat, sugar and fertilisers at the Gwadar Port and onward transit to Afghanistan shall be permitted in bonded carrier, insured and sealable trucks having a tracking device installed on them.”
Customs authorities will take necessary and cost efficient measures to ensure the en route security of the cargo, notification adds.
Thanks for your great and motivating article.
I simply cannot believe that all these cargoes will be sent to Afghanistan. Smuggling will be rampant as it is very lucrative to import and divert to Pakistani markets.