Pakistan Border Trade

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The first ever seafood cargo container from Pakistan has successfully arrived in Xinjiang, China via Karakorum highway...

 

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Gwadar Port sends 20,000 tons of DAP fertilizer to Afghanistan​

By Yasir Habib Khan

GWADAR, June 3 (Gwadar Pro) - A private sector consignment of 20,000 tons of DAP fertilizer has been sent from Gwadar port to Afghanistan on May 31.

This batch of DAP fertilizer was imported from Australia under the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement by KB Fertilizer and Agven Pvt Ltd, enterprises operating in Gwadar Free Zone (South).

An official from COPHC told Gwadar Pro that the DAP fertilizer has been executed by Shipping service provider (Makran Trader) and Ship clearing agent. “Both of them are local companies. This means Gwadar port is providing business opportunities to the locals on a large scale,” he added.

DAP is used in various industrial processes, such as metal finishing. It also improves crop yield besides the development and growth of flowering plants or leafy plants. In 2022, Gwadar port processed a private sector consignment of 8,000 tons of DAP fertilizers and transported it via road to Afghanistan, marking the first Afghanistan-bound fertilizer shipment.

 

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Afghanistan, Iran, Russia: Country outlines process for barter trade​

• Govt tries to manage balance of payments crisis amid record inflation

Reuters
June 3, 2023

KARACHI: Pakistan has passed a special order to allow barter trade with Afghanistan, Iran and Russia for certain goods, including petroleum and natural gas, the Ministry of Commerce said on Friday.

Left with barely enough foreign exchange reserves to cover one month’s imports, Pakistan’s government is desperately trying to manage a balance of payments crisis and curb inflation after it hit a record of nearly 38% last month.

The government order, called the Business-to-business (B2B) Barter Trade Mechanism 2023 and dated June 1, lists goods that can be bartered. State and privately owned entities would need approval to participate in the trade mechanism.

 

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First truck of Russian goods arrives in Pakistan​

The Express Tribune
Jul 10, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The first truck carrying export goods from Russia has successfully arrived in Pakistan, marking an important milestone under the Transport International Routes (TIR) Convention.

The road transport agreement between Pakistan and Russia holds great importance in the current geographical and economic context, according to Federal Minister of Communications Asad Mehmood. He highlighted the agreement’s potential as a catalyst for boosting Pakistan’s economy and facilitating expanded trade.

The Russian Embassy confirmed the successful arrival of goods from Russia under the TIR Convention, signalling a positive trajectory in Pakistan-Russia trade. By May 2023, trade between the two countries had witnessed a nearly 50% increase, surpassing $760 million. This milestone represents a crucial step toward strengthening mutual cooperation.

Mehmood reiterated the significance of the road transport agreement between Pakistan and Russia, which was signed during his visit to Moscow in November 2022.

 

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Pakistan, Iran explore trade expansion​

Teams present proposals to improve railway link, banking system, and transportation

APP
September 29, 2023

The Pakistan-Iran Joint Border Trade Committee convened on Thursday to deliberate on border issues, bilateral trade expansion, enhancements in immigration procedures, and transportation. The daylong meeting took place in the Iranian border town of Mirjaveh, adjacent to Taftan in the Chagai district of Balochistan.

The committee discussed various aspects, including the movement of people at the Pakistan-Iran border, transportation of goods, bilateral trade, and measures to combat smuggling, as detailed in a news release issued after the meeting.

Delegations from both countries presented a range of proposals aimed at enhancing the railway link, improving the banking system, and advancing transportation for the benefit of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran.

The delegation expressed optimism that the meeting would prove highly beneficial for the region, particularly for businessmen on both sides of the border.

Earlier, the Iranian delegation, led by the Director General of the Transit and International Transport Department at the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, extended a warm welcome to the Pakistani delegation.

The Pakistani delegation included Taftan Collector of Customs Appraisal Naveed Iqbal, Deputy Collector Usman Aziz, Superintendent Ahad Durrani, and representatives from the business community, transportation sector, banking sector, as well as the Ministry of Immigration and Foreign Affairs.

 

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Fee slapped on Afghan transit trade​

Mubarak Zeb Khan
October 4, 2023

ISLAMABAD: In a significant move to curb the illegal entry of goods into the country, the government announced on Tuesday a 10 per cent processing fee on items imported under the Afghan transit trade agreement.

The decision — which aims to deter smuggling and ensure proper taxation — comes at a time when the government has ordered all illegal immigrants, including 1.73 million Afghan nationals, to leave the country or face expulsion.

According to the Customs Department notification (SRO1381 of 2023), the fee, calculated as 10pc ad valorem based on the original value of goods, must be paid in advance during the declaration process for Afghan transit commercial goods entering Afghanistan via Pakistan.

The items affected include confectioneries, chocolates, footwear, various machinery, blankets, home textiles, and garments.

10pc processing charges to be paid in advance at time of declaration for commercial goods imported via Pakistan

However, the notification stipulates that goods declarations filed before Oct 3 will not be subject to these new provisions.

Customs officials suspect that certain goods, though destined for Afghanistan, are clandestinely rerouted back into Pakistan, prompting this latest measure.

An official noted that cargo volume has surged recently. “Despite Afghanistan’s transit trade demand being $1bn to $2bn per year, we have observed a significant rise. This fee is expected to deter those involved in illicit trading,” the official said.

Under the transit trade agreement, Pakistan has the right to impose processing fees on cargo, the official said.

Pakistan has previously extended economic support to Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul on Aug 15, 2021, Islamabad provided tax and duty exemptions on various commodities, including fruits and vegetables. Besides, from July 6 last year, the government also allowed the trade of all products via land routes to Kabul in rupees.

To combat smuggling, Customs has adopted several policies under the Customs Act, 1969. Essential commodities like wheat, flour, sugar and urea have been added to an essential commodities list to bolster the legal framework.

Besides, the Customs Act’s jurisdiction has been expanded to 10km from the original 5km near the borders with Afghanistan, India and Iran, and to 50km near specific Balochistan districts.

The government has also appointed the chief collector of customs (Balochistan) to address smuggling issues and liaise with law enforcement agencies.

 

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First Pakistan-Kazakhstan TIR trucks exit Torugart port​

By Mia Shah
Nov 2, 2023

XINJIANG - The first trucks carrying export goods recently departed from Pakistan using the Transport International Router (TIR) system. They exited via the Torugart border crossing in Xinjiang before arriving Kazakhstan.
Loaded with mango juice, small household appliances, and other goods, the trucks traveled through Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, making it the first TIR service in China spanning four countries.

With TIR, an international customs facilitation system that significantly enhances the efficiency and security of trade, there is no need for drivers and goods to be stranded at borders for days, slowing down operations by unloading and reloading goods from one truck to another.

In order to ensure the smooth progress of this transportation business, Khunjerab and Torugart Customs fully utilize the flexible advantages of TIR, effectively leverage the frontier advantages of the "Belt and Road" westward opening, and dynamically track the trucks. They also established a dedicated team to offer 24/7 one-stop management services.

"On the basis of supervising imported and exported goods, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the TIR transportation mode and developed a customized customs clearance plan.

This plan greatly reduces the time required for enterprises to clear customs and improves the efficiency of customs clearance process," explained an official from Torugart Customs.

 

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An agreement on trade and transit was signed between Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce said in a statement that an agreement on trade and transit was signed in the tripartite meeting between Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan.

According to the ministry, the agreement was signed between the acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, Uzbekistan Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev, and Gohar Ejaz, Minister of Trade and Commerce of Pakistan.

Based on the statement, it was decided in the meeting that the technical groups of the three countries will start their work in the area of trade and transit next week and share the results before the signing of the final agreement by the three parties.

 

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Amid Pakistan's economic challenges, including a weakening local currency and depleting foreign exchange reserves, Ambassador Mudassir Tipu has stated that Pakistan and Iran are prepared to boost bilateral trade to $5 billion.

He highlighted the commitment to enhancing trade relations, referencing a five-year strategic and economic cooperation document signed between the two countries.

The agreement, covering 2023-28, aims to address trade barriers, establish institutional interactions between private sectors, and finalize a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

 

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Pakistan Afghanistan border reopen after 10 days closure.

 

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In a significant development for regional trade, the transportation of fruits from Pakistan's orchards to Russia via land route has commenced.

The convoy of NLC trucks carrying Kinnow successfully reached Russia, covering a distance of approximately 6,000 kilometers from Sargodha. Out of the total 16 trucks, 14 arrived in the city of Derbent, while 2 reached Grozny.

This initiative by NLC is crucial for the agricultural sector, especially in light of the challenges posed by the unavailability of cold chain facilities, which often result in spoilage of fresh produce.

The implementation of Reefer Service ensures the freshness of fruits during transportation. Upon the arrival of the trucks, a reception ceremony was organized, attended by representatives from the International Road Transport Union, Russian customs officials, Pakistani embassy officers, and members of the business community.

The efforts of NLC were appreciated by the Russian authorities, marking a positive step towards enhancing bilateral trade between Pakistan and Russia.

Previously, NLC has successfully transported bananas, meat, and seafood to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China.