ajpirzada
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is expected to finalise transit transport agreements with Central Asian republics by June next year to improve trade links with these countries.
The National Trade Corridor Task Force is giving final shape to a plan to install scanners at border posts.
According to a presentation made by the task force, in which officials of the customs department of Federal Bureau of Revenue are playing the main role, the scanners would be installed at Chaman, Taftan and Wagah posts by the National Logistic Cell for security of transit trade with Afghanistan, Iran and India.
The task force said that Pakistan would benefit from its geopolitical location by improving transit trade with countries in the region.
The ministry of commerce is holding talks with the landlocked countries of Central Asia and for determining trade requirements of western China.
Officials in the ministry expect transit trade agreements with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to be finalised by June next year.
Transit agreements with the Central Asian republics will also help to promote trade with Russia, said an official.
The task forces presentation recently given to the planning commission pointed out that too many departments were involved in clearance of transit trade and six ministries and numerous local departments in trade and transport logistics.
Transit trade contributes between 8.5 and 9.5 per cent to the GDP in developed economies, said the officials, adding that there was no ministry for logistics for transport and trade services in the country.
The task force suggested that the customs department should try to reduce the pre-and post-clearance time and recommended that the ministry of ports and shipping and the FBR act for removing public sector constraints which were delaying shipments and clearance of imports.
It has been suggested that customs examination of export cargo may be conducted at factory premises for speedy loading at seaports.
The task force has also made a number of suggestions for reducing clearance time at ports.
The port dwell time is around four days and it has to be reduced to one day, the task force said. It also recommended training for freight forwarders.
It has suggested completion of ports community electronic data interchange by June 2010.
The role of commercial banks in trade facilitation has already been streamlined, the task force said.
It claimed that the Ports Community IT Network would be made operational by June.
It has also suggested that trade documents be made electronic and trade and industry, especially small and medium enterprises, be encouraged to make use of it in international trade transactions.
DAWN.COM | National | Plan to make Pak transit corridor for C. Asian republics
The National Trade Corridor Task Force is giving final shape to a plan to install scanners at border posts.
According to a presentation made by the task force, in which officials of the customs department of Federal Bureau of Revenue are playing the main role, the scanners would be installed at Chaman, Taftan and Wagah posts by the National Logistic Cell for security of transit trade with Afghanistan, Iran and India.
The task force said that Pakistan would benefit from its geopolitical location by improving transit trade with countries in the region.
The ministry of commerce is holding talks with the landlocked countries of Central Asia and for determining trade requirements of western China.
Officials in the ministry expect transit trade agreements with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to be finalised by June next year.
Transit agreements with the Central Asian republics will also help to promote trade with Russia, said an official.
The task forces presentation recently given to the planning commission pointed out that too many departments were involved in clearance of transit trade and six ministries and numerous local departments in trade and transport logistics.
Transit trade contributes between 8.5 and 9.5 per cent to the GDP in developed economies, said the officials, adding that there was no ministry for logistics for transport and trade services in the country.
The task force suggested that the customs department should try to reduce the pre-and post-clearance time and recommended that the ministry of ports and shipping and the FBR act for removing public sector constraints which were delaying shipments and clearance of imports.
It has been suggested that customs examination of export cargo may be conducted at factory premises for speedy loading at seaports.
The task force has also made a number of suggestions for reducing clearance time at ports.
The port dwell time is around four days and it has to be reduced to one day, the task force said. It also recommended training for freight forwarders.
It has suggested completion of ports community electronic data interchange by June 2010.
The role of commercial banks in trade facilitation has already been streamlined, the task force said.
It claimed that the Ports Community IT Network would be made operational by June.
It has also suggested that trade documents be made electronic and trade and industry, especially small and medium enterprises, be encouraged to make use of it in international trade transactions.
DAWN.COM | National | Plan to make Pak transit corridor for C. Asian republics
involvement in Central Asia this dream will be lost
