Containers clearance: Kabul blamed for delay

Pakistan has reportedly held Afghan government responsible for the containers presently stuck up at ports in Karachi because the latter did not sign Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) scheduled to be implemented from March 12, 2011, well informed sources in FBR told Business Recorder. A meeting was held in the FBR on March 15, 2011 to review the position pertaining to clearance of Afghan transit goods.
The meeting was attended by Member, Customs, FBR, Additional Secretary, Commerce and Senior Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce. According to sources, the participants noted the concern of Afghan government conveyed by the Commerce Minister of Afghanistan regarding delay in transportation of perishable/non-perishable Afghan goods at ports of Karachi and Bin Qasim.
The stakeholders were further informed that the number of containers pending clearance at ports of Karachi and Bin Qasim, as reported by certain quarters was exaggerated and presently the actual number of Afghan Transit Trade containers awaiting transportation was only 4256.
The sources said, current situation would not have arisen had the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (2010) been implemented on the scheduled date ie March 12, 2011, as the agreement embodied explicit provision for allowing of customs bonded carriers to transport the transit goods un-hindered.
FBR revealed that by strictly pursuing the same rationale, the office of the Finance Minister has been requested to grant permission to the Customs Bonded Carrier for transportation of Afghan transit cargo. FBR further revealed that though it had never allowed transportation of Afghan transit cargo in trucks hired by NLC [(popularly known as (HMT)], usage of the same was highlighted in the report of FTO in ISAF containers scam, suo motu notice of which was taken by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In view of the court case in the apex court, usage of HMT (by NLC) for transportation of Afghan Transit Goods was stopped.
FBR further stated that the use of HMT has been stopped only with respect to commercial cargo. The transit goods imported by ISAF/ Nato, US Army are covered/cleared under a specific CGO 12/2002.
According to sources, on the request of FBR, Pakistan Railways have arranged six special cargo trains which are being loaded with Afghan transit goods, two each at Kemari, Port Qasim and KICT. FBR has further been assured by the Secretary Railways that another batch of six trains will be made available for transportation of Afghan transit cargo as soon as the berths are available.
It is understood that NLC, through the Planning Commission, is moving a summary to the ECC seeking one time permission for transportation of transit cargo through its HMT. FBR proposes to reiterate its proposal as is contained in the APTTA 2010 ie the permission for transportation of Afghan transit cargo through customs bonded carriers which has started operations.