57 items’ exemption from COO’s requirement: Balochistan businessmen, FBR officials discuss impact for trade with Iran

ISLAMABAD: Business community of Balochistan and top customs officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Friday discussed impact of the positive decision of exemption of 57 items from the requirement of the Certificate of Origin (COO) for trade with Iran.

The development was discussed during a Zoom meeting chaired by Member Customs Policy, Ashhad Jawad, held under the framework of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) for consultations between the public and private sectors.

Participants included President of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) Haji Muhammad Ayub Mariani, Chief Collector Customs Irfan Javed, Collector Jamil Baloch, State Bank representative Muhammad Yasir, and Zubair Khan from the Ministry of Commerce, among others.

The government has exempted 57 items from the requirement of the COO for trade with Iran, a move hailed by the business community as a major step forward in enhancing Pak-Iran bilateral trade.

Business leaders described the decision as a significant achievement that would enable Pakistani traders to conduct business with Iran more easily and with greater confidence.

The meeting focused on removing longstanding barriers to Pak-Iran trade- particularly the issues related to the Electronic Import Form (EIF) and the COO.

Speaking on the occasion, Member Customs Policy Ashhad Jawad said the government is taking all necessary steps to promote legal trade, and the exemption of 57 items from the COO requirement is part of these efforts. He emphasized that promoting legal trade is essential for the country’s and provinces’ economic prosperity and appreciated the Quetta Chamber’s active role in this regard.

Jawad expressed hope that the government’s initiative would further strengthen bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran.

QCCI President Haji Muhammad Ayub Mariani said the chamber had consistently voiced its concerns over the conditions related to the Electronic Import Form and Certificate of Origin on behalf of the province’s business community. He lauded the Ministry of Commerce’s decision to exempt 57 items from the COO requirement, terming it a commendable step.

He urged traders to take advantage of the new facility and expand trade with Iran. Mariani further disclosed that the Quetta Chamber has already provided authorities with an additional list of 37 items proposed for COO exemption and expressed hope that these too would soon be included.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025