ISLAMABAD: Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has appreciated the performance of Federal Borad of Revenue (FBR) and Customs department regarding clearance of containers Pak-Afghan Transit Trade.
He was chairing the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Pakistan Afghanistan Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG) to review the implementation of the decisions for Pak-Afghan Trade and visa facilitation.
Addressing the committe, Asad Qaiser said that promoting exports is imperative for economic stability and development of Pakistan.
Speaker National Assembly praised the work of FBR and customs for container clearance on Torkham and Chaman border and directed customs to ensure clearance of Afghan transit trade within a week.
The representative of National Logistic Cell (NLC) informed the committee that due to deployment of extra personnel and speedy clearance of Afghanistan bound containers, the container clearance has reached up to 1870 per day. He further told that this capacity will be enhanced up to 2000 containers per day.
Asad Qaiser directed the representative of State Bank of Pakistan to ensure the establishment of bank branches at Anghoor Adda and Ghulam Khan Borders of the facilitation of traders. The SBP personnel told that National Bank and Bank of Khyber will establish their branches within stipulated time.
The speaker also commended the cabinet approval of visa liberalization policy for Afghan nationals recommended by the committee.
Enquiring about the matter related to off-loading of import containers at Miran Shah instead of Ghulam Khan and deployment of FIA personnel at Ghulam Khan, Angoor Adda and Kharlachi, Asad Qasir directed secretary Ministry of Interior to immediately assess the ground situation and submit a report to facilitate the Afghan Transit Traders.
While reviewing progress on the issue of waving off demurrage and detention charges for the Afghan Transit Trade containers, the Committee recommended unanimously forwarding this matter on Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet. The Committee also unanimously recommended to bring legislative bill in the matter of waiving off demurrage issues.
The committee discussed about reducing the number of checkpoints and the Speaker directed Special Assistant to PM on Establishment to held meeting with Balochistan Government, stakeholders and apprise the committee about rationalization of the required numbers of check posts.
MNA Mohsin Darwar and Shahdana Gulzar Khan has suggested committee for an on ground visit of Torkham, Chamman and Angoor adda besides giving retrospective legislation in the matter of waiving off demurrage issues. (With input from INP)
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