Pakistan Border and Barter Trade

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Pakistan has 6 notified borders with Afghanistan for trade: NA told

The Frontier Post

ISLAMABAD(APP): Parliamentary Secretary Interior Shaukat Ali on Friday informed the National Assembly that currently Pakistan has only six notified borders with Afghanistan for trade and business activities.

Responding to a calling attention notice raised by Gul Dad Khan and others regarding closure of Nawa Pass and Gorsal border points, Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Shaukat Ali said these notified borders were included Torkham, Chaman, Badini, Angur Ada, Ghulam Khan and Kharlachi.

He said Nawa Pass and Gorsal located in Bajawar and Mohmand respectively were not notified for trade and business activities. Both the points were closed in 2007 and 2009 respectively due to security reasons, he added.

Shaukat said a border management committee decided opening of any point but it required a complete procedure.

Any boarder point was opened after proper consultation with Afghan government, he said. The movers of the calling attention emphasized the need for enhancing trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

They said more c-crossing points should be opened between the two countries to achieve the objective. Later the speaker referred the matter to the standing committee on State and Frontier Regions for detailed deliberation.

 

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Pakistan & Afghanistan, guard post at border in 1970.
Regular GTS Bus service between Peshawar and Kabul daily..

 

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https://nation.com.pk/NewsSource/web-desk
Web Desk
6:06 PM | April 26, 2021


Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Monday that the federal government has decided to open two new border crossing routes in Pak-Iran border at Chowk Aap and Jalgi (Buleda).

He stated this in a tweet after a meeting with Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal in Islamabad.

Moreover, the Interior Minister said the border crossings, adding to the mutual tourism, will also boost the bilateral relationships between two countries.

 

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First-ever shipment from Pakistan under TIR reaches Tashkent

Adviser to Prime Minister for Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood on Monday informed that first-ever shipment from Pakistan under Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) reached Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 48 hours from Torkham, Pakistan.

“A milestone has been achieved in Pakistan’s transit trade history as Pakistan Customs processed the first-ever TIR consignment,” Dawood said, adding that that connectivity with trading partners is vital for viable trade relations.

The adviser said that Pakistan’s long-term vision for trade and economic relations with Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs) was to make Pakistan a hub for trade, transit and transshipment.

He said that the structure and efficiency connectivity networks enable access to markets and should be considered a facet of the trade competitiveness

 

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The Pakistan and Uzbekistan transit trade and export of goods to Pakistan through Afghanistan was launched here on Tuesday.
According to a press release from Ministry of Commerce, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Pakistan together with Pakistani transport company, Best Trans Pvt. Ltd., and Uzbek freight forwarding company, Asad Trans, for the first time implemented pilot trans-Afghan logistics project for the direct delivery of Uzbek export goods to Pakistan through the territory of Afghanistan.
The project launched as a joint began working on a project for direct delivery through Afghanistan of Uzbek goods to Pakistani cities according to the supplier’s warehouse – importer’s warehouse scheme

 

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Jul 17, 2021
CHAMAN: To allow thousands of Afghans to go back to their homeland through the border town Spin Boldak, Pakistan on Saturday partially reopened its southern crossing with Afghanistan.

"We have opened the Chaman border... allowing crowds of up to 4,000 Afghans including women and children to cross over to Afghanistan to celebrate Eid al-Adha with their families, purely on humanitarian grounds," a border official, who did not want to be named, told AFP.

People would be allowed to cross until the evening, with the possibility the border would open again tomorrow, the official added.

Muhammad Tayyab, a local paramilitary official, said the decision was taken because of "relative calm on the other side", but said the crossing would remain closed to trade.

An AFP photographer said the gates were rushed by families as soon as they opened.

Qudratullah, 30, who lives in neighbouring Kandahar province in Afghanistan was returning after taking his father to Karachi for a heart bypass three months ago.

"I have to come back (to Pakistan) for a routine check-up of my father, but let's see if I am able to come back or not," he said.

Muhammad Khan, 50, who works as a labourer in Quetta, said he had been waiting at the border trying to reach Afghanistan for the Muslim holiday Eid.

"I will definitely try to come back after Eid because there is unemployment in Afghanistan and I will not be able to get any job there," he said.

 

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Torkham border reopens for trade after brief closure

Ibrahim Shinwari
August 16, 2021

A truck enters Afghanistan at Torkham border crossing on Sunday.

KHYBER: The all-important Torkham border was reopened for bilateral trade with Afghanistan on Sunday after remaining closed for several hours when Afghan Taliban took control of their side of the border crossing early in the morning.

Landi Kotal Assistant Commissioner Akbar Iftikhar told Dawn that the border security officials agreed to allow trade consignments, mostly perishable food items loaded in trucks and containers, to move across the border after reaching an understanding with Taliban representatives on Afghan side of the border.
He said that trucks loaded with Afghan import items, mostly fresh fruits and vegetables, also came to Pakistan after reaching a verbal understanding between the two sides.

Hundreds of vehicles loaded with multiple trade goods and food items got stranded near Torkham after receiving news about the ‘fall’ of Nangarhar province of Afghanistan to Afghan Taliban late on Saturday evening and their subsequent ‘seizure’ of the Torkham border crossing early in the morning. Pedestrian movement was, however, closed as before.

Farman Khan, a local resident, told Dawn earlier in the morning that the border crossing became nearly deserted with only army and Frontier Corps positioned there while the Customs and Nadra offices were almost vacated as traders, transporters and custom clearing agents were not allowed to go near the border.

The taxi stand too was deserted as pedestrian movement was completely halted. The local market, restaurants and money changer outlets were also closed.

Earlier, local security officials said that they had to temporarily close the border owing to security reasons after Taliban took control of Afghan side of the border. They, however, said that they had not received any formal orders for closure of the border from the federal government.

Mr Iftikhar also said that the later reopening of the border would be permanent as the federal government had not formally notified its closure.

He said that early closure was a temporary arrangement at local level owing to the uncertainty.

Pakistan had on May 8 imposed ban on cross-border pedestrian movement owing to spike in coronavirus cases throughout Afghanistan. The government, however, allowed Afghans stranded in Pakistan to go back to their country, albeit with legal travelling documents.

Similarly, Pakistanis stranded in Afghanistan too were allowed to come back but they were required to undergo Rapid Antigen Tests and later spending 10 days of quarantine period in local hospital.

Afghan students studying in different educational institutions were allowed to come to Pakistan via Torkham and resume their studies after completion of mandatory quarantine period in local quarantine centres.


Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2021

 

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Free Trade Agreement To Be Signed Between Iran and Pakistan

Hamid Reza Ghomi, the Iranian Consul General in Peshawar, stated that efforts had been made to conclude a free trade deal between Iran and Pakistan.

According to the Iranian diplomat, despite the Covid-19 outbreak, the Iranian consulate aided Pakistani businesspeople by promptly issuing visas.

He praised Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran for his efforts, adding he was instrumental in developing trade between the two countries. According to the Iranian diplomat, despite the Covid-19 outbreak, the Iranian consulate aided Pakistani businesspeople by promptly issuing visas.
He told businesspeople at the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry that Iran sought to develop regional economic links by boosting bilateral trade and economic cooperation with Pakistan.

Shabaz Bilour asked Iranian investors to engage in hydel power generation, marble, mining, match, furniture, honey, diamonds, and other areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He stated that regional commerce promotion was urgently needed.

Mr Bilour believes there is a significant opportunity to increase commerce between Pakistan and Iran, now valued at $359 million

 

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The Torkham border crossing was opened for commercial vehicles.
According to reports, 100 to 150 trucks arrived in the first 24 hours, while now 300 trucks have crossed the border.

 

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Pakistan Afghanistan trade picks up as Taliban seize control

Commercial traffic across Afghanistan's border with Pakistan at the Spin Boldak/Chaman crossing picked up on Thursday, traders said, as the shock of the Taliban's lightning seizure of power began to ease and confidence returned.

"Today, many trucks loaded with fresh fruit (from Afghanistan), including famous 'Sunder-Khani' grapes, were cleared at Customs House Chaman," a senior Custom Officer told

He said movement was strong in both directions, with long-bodied trucks loaded with export and Afghan transit goods also going from Pakistan to Afghanistan's Spin Boldak and the nearby provincial capital of Kandahar.

The Pakistani official, who could not be quoted by name, said trade had picked up over recent days after fighting ended in Kandahar last week.

 

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Turkey marked the launch of the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Road Transport Corridor Project on Friday, with a welcoming ceremony in Istanbul for a convoy of Pakistani commercial trucks.
The first two National Logistics Company (NLC) trucks carrying goods from Pakistan reached Turkey via Iran, under the Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) convention.

The trucks departed the Pakistani port city of Karachi on September 27 and reached Istanbul on October 7, completing their 5,300 kilometers (3,293 miles) trip.

 

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Balochistan govt forms committee to address issues related to movement across Chaman-Spin Boldak border

Tahir Khan
October 20, 2021

In this file photo, security personnel stand guard on Pakistan side of the Chaman-Spin Boldak border.

A committee comprising senior civil and military officials in Balochistan has been formed to address key issues related to cross-border movement at the Chaman-Spin Boldak gate along the frontier with Afghanistan, according to a notification issued by the Balochistan Home and Tribal Affairs Department.

Taliban authorities had closed the crossing for pedestrians and trade earlier this month over claims that traders, patients and passengers were facing difficulties but Pakistan was “unwilling to resolve problems” despite their efforts.

On October 18, the Balochistan Home and Tribal Affairs Department issued a notification, announcing the constitution of the committee to "resolve issues pertaining to cross-border movement" at the Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing.

The committee will be headed by the additional chief secretary of the Balochistan home department, said the notification, which is available with Dawn.com. Its members include the commander of 20 brigade at Chaman, the director of the Federal Investigation Agency in Quetta, representatives of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Quetta, National Logistics Cell, Quetta, Customs Collectorate and the National Database and Regulatory Authority, the Chaman deputy commissioner and co-opted members(s), the notification added.

According to the notification, the committee will make efforts for resolving issues pertaining to the closure of the Pak-Afghan border at Chaman and cross-border movements. It will also work on devising a proper mechanism for pedestrian movement across the border, discuss matters related to the impact on Afghan Transit Trade and review other issues.

Meanwhile, a member of the committee told Dawn.com that representatives from Pakistan and Afghanistan met near the border on Wednesday (today) to deliberate on a strategy for reopening the border. No details were immediately available about what transpired in the meeting.

The closure of the Chaman-Spin Boldak border has badly affected the pomegranate farmers of Afghanistan as fresh fruit is ready for export to Pakistan.

Pakistan has also slashed the duty on fresh fruit from Afghanistan except for apples.


Torkham border

Meanwhile, the Torkham border crossing remains closed for Afghans, even with valid visas, despite the passage of several months. Pakistan had closed the crossing in May, citing concerns over the spread of Covid-19.

Earlier on September 29, Shehzad Arbab, the special assistant to the prime minister on the Establishment Division, had said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed to do away with the practice of issuing permission letters for crossing the Torkham border and allow smooth entry on valid visas. The decision is, however, yet to be implemented.

For his part, Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan told Dawn.com that the Pakistani embassy in Kabul has issued around 16,000 visas to Afghans since the Taliban takeover on August 15. The majority of Afghans, who have been granted the visas have, however, been stuck due to the closure of Torkham border crossing.

To add to it, Pakistan and Afghan airlines have also suspended flights operations between the two countries over a high fare controversy

 

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Pakistan, Iran to sign barter deal through commerce chambers?

Mushtaq Ghumman
06 Nov 2021


Pakistan and Iran are all set to reach a barter trade deal by using the forums of Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) and Zahidan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZCCI), as State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has refused to engage in formal trade with Iran due to US sanctions on the Islamic republic, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.

The pact is likely to be signed during the visit of Prime Minister's Advisor on Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood who has reached Tehran on a two-day official visit to attend 9th Pakistan Iran Joint Trade Committee meeting scheduled for November 6-7, 2021.

Iranian Minister for Industry Reza Fatemi-Amin and Abdul Razak Dawood will jointly preside over the meeting during which issues related to trade cooperation will come under discussion, in addition to discussion on progress in decisions taken at the 8th meeting of JTC.

Both sides will discuss possibilities of FTA, cooperation in transportation sector, construction of border markets.

Dawood will also hold meetings with Iranian Ministers to discuss issue of bilateral interest.

The sources said it had been decided that a barter trade mechanism would be established between QCCI and ZCCI.

Regional peace and terrorism: Pakistan, Iran agree to boost defence cooperation

Pakistan has shared a list of 33 items including
Rice, sesamum seeds, fresh or dried guavas, mangoes and mangosteens, meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled, surgical goods, line animals (Mammals), bananas, woven fabrics or jute, plastic and articles (polymers or styrene), textile fabrics, dried leguminous vegetables, (peas, beans etc) vessels for the transport of goods, can molasses etc.

Iran has shared a list of 33 items of its interest:

(i) gaseous hydrocarbons, liquefied (excluding natural gas);
(ii) propane liquefied;
(iii) crude petroleum oils:
(iv) petroleum bitumen;
(v) sacks and bags;
(vi) fresh and dried dates;
(vii) ceramic flags and paving & finishing ceramics; (viii) dried leguminous vegetables (chickpeas garbanzos);
(ix) fresh and dried pistachios (both in shell and shelled);
(x) bars and rods of iron or non-alloy steel, hot wafers;
(xi) sweets biscuits and bread, cakes and pastry and waffles and wafers;
(xii) chocolate and other food preparations containing coca;
(xiii) fruit juices (grapes and vegetable fruits;
(xiv) milk and cream, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter and;
(xv) apples, pears and quinces, fresh;
(xvi) grapes fresh or dried;
(xvii) dries apricots, prunes, apples, peaches and pears etc.


The Barter Trade Mechanism (BTM) will work in following ways:

(i) Pak exports to Iran will precede Iran exports to Pakistan;
(ii) barter trade shall be restricted to land route via Taftan Border only;
(iii) barter trade will be restricted to items agreed as per the Border Trade Agreement between Pakistan and Iran;
(iv) there will be no monetary transaction under the barter trade arrangement.

Pakistan's importers will make payment to Pakistan exporters in lieu of goods exported by them in Pak Rupee and vice versa;
(v) the value of goods exported under barter trade should not exceed a specific amount to be finalized during the meeting;
(vi) on imports/exports of goods on either side, the party should submit documentary evidence such as Bill of Entry to the focal person in QCCI where the value exceeds the agreed amount in PKR;
(vii) Customs authorities at Pak-lran Border will report import/export transactions of the value not exceeding agreed amount to the State Bank of Pakistan on monthly basis;
(viii) export of goods from Iran to Pakistan against import of goods from Pakistan to Iran should be completed within a period of six months from the date of import;
(ix) a copy of the contract for import and export with Iranian parties should also be submitted to QCCI and ZCCI; (x) QCCI will forward a monthly statement within 15 days from the close of the month;
(xi) Periodic Review of the agreement will be carried out after mutual consultations; and
(xii) each Party may terminate/rescind this agreement through a written communication addressed to the other Party, with a minimum notice of three months.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021