LAHORE: India has sought no extension in the facility of wheat transportation to Afghanistan through Wagah border from the Government of Pakistan and the whole exercise has been restricted to supply of only 10,000 metric tons throughout Wagah border, said sources.
Former information minister Fawad Chaudhry had announced in the month of February that Afghan trucks carrying wheat from India through Pakistan to the war-torn country would be allowed to pass toll-free. Accordingly, the Board had completed arrangements to facilitate the supply of wheat by India to Afghanistan on humanitarian grounds and assigned the Customs department to ensure hassle-free formalities. Under the arrangement, 60 trucks would reach Wagah border from Afghanistan to further travel to Attari and collect the first consignment of wheat from Indian authorities on February 22.
The Collectorate of Customs Lahore was facilitating transportation of 50,000 metric tons of wheat and medicine from India to Afghanistan through its Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) cell for the purpose of clearing the consignments, the sources said.
However, only 10,000 metric tons Indian wheat was transported to Afghanistan through Wagah border until the end of the month of March, a process that was started on 22nd February for a period of one month initially. The Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) cell of the Collectorate was clearing consignments with the help of appraisers possessing expertise in scrutinizing Goods Declaration (GDs).
As per the earlier assessments, the motorway authorities were of the view that it was not possible to carry more than 40 metric tons per truck, therefore, the whole process would continue for a period of one month. However, the process could not be completed within a period of one month and there was a possibility of extension in the facility for another three to four months.
It may be noted that both the trucks and their drivers were from Afghanistan to carry Indian wheat through Wagah border. The Afghan trucks were allowed to pass toll-free in Pakistani territory. Scanning of empty trucks from Afghanistan takes place at the Wagah border before their entry to India for Attari, followed by another scanning of loaded trucks returning from India for Afghanistan.
The Board had further directed to escort the trucks before their entry to Afghanistan through Torkham border. Accordingly, the Collectorate was escorting trucks soon after they enter the precincts of the province of Punjab from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2022