Over 750 vehicles stuck at Torkham border due to new Certificate of Origin requirement

More than 750 vehicles, carrying soapstone and coal imported from Afghanistan, have been stuck at the Torkham border for the past two weeks due to the absence of a Certificate of Origin (COO). 

Customs officials at the border reported that they had been instructed not to clear any vehicles carrying goods from Afghanistan without a COO. 

The new regulation, which was implemented recently, aims to verify the true origin of the imported products. However, the new requirement has caused significant delays, frustrating importers and other stakeholders. 

All Torkham Clearing Agents Association President, Mujib Shinwari, criticised the sudden enforcement of the regulation, stating that the customs department did not consult with the business community before imposing the rule. 

He argued that the COO had never been a mandatory document for clearing soapstone and coal imports in the past and described the change as unfair to the trading community.

He suggested that customs officials should clear the stranded vehicles using the previous process and convene a meeting with stakeholders to find a workable solution. He also revealed that the customs department had previously exempted the COO for such imports.

The sudden introduction of this new rule has led to hardships for drivers of the stranded vehicles, many of whom spent Eid-ul-Azha stuck on the Landi-Kotal-Torkham road. 

All Torkham Clearing Agents Association warned that the new regulations could negatively impact Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral trade.