Ban on Afghan precious stones import goes

The Customs has lifted ban on import of precious stones from Afghanistan through Torkham border, and has also abolished the conditionalities of attestation of national identity cards and stamp papers for exporters.
Similarly, it has also decided to auction goods lying at dry ports for long time.
This was announced by Peshawar Customs Additional Collector Rozi Khan Burki while talking to exporters during his visit to the office of the All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association (Apcea) on Saturday.
Bashir Khan, deputy director, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Peshawar, was also present.
He said exports play the role of backbone in the development of economy, saying that precious stones are the identity of NWFP, and it should be recognised at the international level.
He assured that the precious stone sector exporters would be encouraged in all possible means.
Burki told the exporters that the vehicles parked in the dry port area would be removed and other goods would be auctioned to facilitate exporters, adding the import of precious stones from Afghanistan would not be restricted in future.
He said Pakistan Customs has banned the business of five customs agents, who were defaming the whole province, and action against 10 others was in progress, adding the customs officials creating hindrance in the promotion of export would be dealt with iron hand, and urged the exporters to pin point such black sheep among their ranks.
He termed exporters and traders as precious assets, saying that rebate cases would be decided shortly.
Earlier, the Apcea chairman, in his address of welcome, briefed the Customs additional collector about the activities of the Association, adding Apcea is working for the promotion of export, which had resulted in 400-fold increase in exports.
He complained that Pakistan Customs is not allowing free import of precious stones from Afghanistan through Torkham border, causing negative impact on the imports, saying the rebate claims are undecided for long and demanded action to resolve it.
He also drew the attention of the customs officials towards the parked vehicles at the Peshawar Dry Port, which is creating difficulties for exporters.
Those present on the occasion included Dost Muhammad Khan, Shahid Munir, Mazhar-ul-Haq, Shafee Muhammad, Pervez Elahi Malik, Mamoor Khan, Mumtaz Khan, Khalid Sultan Khawaja, Rashid Qadeer Mir, Mushtaq Ahmad, Sahibzada Abdul Salaam, Haji Imtiaz Ahmad Ali, Engineer Ghulam Sabir Rasool, and Salahuddin.