(02 March, 2018)
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President AKIA, Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Friday said it is progressive to implement automated WeBOC system for export goods through Torkham Border, however, to make maximum out of it, it is necessary to meet the pre-requisites of the system, i.e., uninterrupted electricity and stable internet service. Implementation of automated system without providing its pre-requisites has adversely affected Pak-Afghan trade.
Custom facility at the Torkham border is lacking electricity as well as better internet services which causes severe delay in processing of containers exporting / importing goods between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Containers’ processing declined to 5 – 10 from 200 – 300 on daily basis, due to lacking of required facilities imposing an adverse affect on the national economy.
Mian Zahid Hussain requested Government, while talking to business community of Torkham to resolve all issues pertaining to WeBOC system including delays in shipments clearing and restore confidence of the business community and custom agents on the same. The effective modernization of system will be welcomed by all sectors and will bring more transparency and ease in Pak-Afghan trade.
The veteran business leader said that it is important for the Government, to inform and train the relevant sectors before introducing new system. This important factor has been neglected while implementing WeBOC on Torkham border. It is also worth stating that the automated system has not been implemented on any other border including Chaman, Khar Lachi and Ghulam Khan which is troubling for people trading through Torkham border.
The former minister said that Government should fulfill the promises made to custom agents and local traders for calling off their four day longed strike, yesterday. Recommendations of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa chamber of commerce & industry, custom agents and local traders. In view of the Country’s economy, the decision of calling off strike by the custom agents is appreciative however Government should take concrete and immediate steps acceptable to both Government and stake holders, to avoid any future conflict in this aspect.
