No one can underestimate the importance of projects being carried out under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and yet the success of such projects is directly linked to the foolproof security arrangements, improved infrastructure and smooth e-based customs' operations.
Though lot of efforts are being made vis-à-vis security arrangements and infrastructural development, the customs' operations, despite being major key factor for the success of CPEC, have, so far, remained neglected.
CPEC projects fall under the broad categories of energy, infrastructure, Gawadar and other projects. Besides, a number of other projects relating to aviation, communications, railways, water and power were are being financed under the PSDP worth Rs1.15 trillion and hence import on a massive scale is expected for the implementation of these projects. Such imports will require expeditious clearance, monitoring, and tracking for keeping an auditable trail so that CPEC might not become victim on account of any shortcomings in customs' operations.
Moreover, huge volume of transit cargo which is anticipated to be transported to and from China will require customs facilitation and control at both the entry and exit points.
CPEC also envisages establishment of export processing zones/special economic zones. This requires door-step customs facilitation to ensure swift clearances of goods without any pilferages.
The customs department will have to be more efficient in ensuring en-route monitoring of duty/tax free goods to be transported across Pakistan to avoid en-route pilferage, which will have perilous impact on the country's economy as any smuggling/pilferage of Chinese goods en-route will have direct and serious repercussions on Pakistani industry and duty-paid goods. Hence, there is a need for taking feasible initiatives to strengthen the customs' operations such as clearance, accurate data exchange, proper monitoring of cross-border and transit/trans-shipment traffic/cargo, security and scanning of cargo in order to cope up with aforesaid issues proactively.
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