Afghanistan, Pakistan agree on extension of APTTCA agreement

In the 6th meeting of Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Coordination Authority (APTTCA), Pakistani Commerce Secretary Muhammad Shehzad Arbab and Afghan Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industries Mozammil Shinwari agreed to revise the provisions of the present agreement, and amendments will be made appropriately with a view to further facilitating the transit trade.

According to Daily Times, In this connection Afghanistan will share a draft text of amended APTTA with Pakistan by March 15, which would be deliberated in the 7th APTTCA Meeting to be hosted by Afghanistan in the last week of March.

A joint committee comprising of representatives from the Ministry of Transportation – Afghanistan and Ministries of Communications and Railways – Pakistan, Customs and Ministries of Commerce from both sides and members of the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber shall be constituted to discuss the issues relating to visas, road permits and guarantees for the implementation of the TIR system in both countries and to address future issues in this regard.

The recommendations of the committee shall be sent to the focal points of the APTTCA for consideration. The first meeting of the committee will be held in the second week of March in Karachi.

The Afghan side agreed to issue WeBOC user IDs for non-commercial importers of Afghanistan through its Ministry of Commerce and Industries.

Pakistan Customs also handed over the list of non-commercial importers to Afghan Customs. Pakistani side agreed to consider Afghanistan’s proposal to waive guarantee requirements for items not prone to diversion and to abolish the current negative list for Afghan Transit Trade.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan agreed to address the issue of pendency of T-1 Certificates on priority basis. In this regard, it agreed to deploy more staff and resources and hold regular meetings with Pakistan Customs to review its progress.

It was also agreed that hard copies of the T-1 Certificates uploaded online in the WeBOC system by Afghan Customs shall not be required by Pakistan Customs.

The Afghan side’s request for change in destination of transit cargo from Torkham to Chaman and vice versa, filed by the Afghan traders, was agreed to by Pakistan Customs.

For transit through railways, Pakistan Railways informed that work is in progress to operationalise Azakhel Railway Dry Port, Peshawar, which is to be completed by December.

It was agreed that in the meantime FBR shall consider the request of Pakistan Railways to allow pilot run at Peshawar Cantt Station for trans-shipment of Afghan transit goods.

Also, Pakistan side will examine the Afghan proposal for allowing containerised Afghan exports transit through railways.

Meanwhile, In a major development, Pakistan and Afghanistan have decided to organise a pilot run of Afghan trucks from Torkham and Chaman up to Wagah.

The trucks will be carrying Afghan exports to India and Pakistani trucks from Torkham and Chaman will carry Pakistani exports to Sher Khan Bandar (Tajikistan’s border).

“The Afghan trucks will be allowed to carry Pakistani exports to Afghanistan on their return journey. Similarly, Pakistani trucks will be allowed to carry Tajik and Central Asian export cargo on their return journey to Pakistan,” said an official.

For the movement of trucks in the territory of the two countries, Afghan side had proposed finalising the bilateral transport agreement. Pakistan agreed to provide the draft agreement through diplomatic channels within one month.