PM for fast-tracking establishment of border markets along Afghan, Iran bordering areas

[ghazi52]

PM for fast-tracking establishment of border markets along Afghan, Iran bordering areas


The prime minister expressed these views while presiding over a meeting here to review progress regarding the establishment of border markets in bordering areas with Afghanistan and Iran.


https://www.brecorder.com/authors/76220/app

APP
18 Jan 2021

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday directed to fast-track the measures regarding the establishment of border markets in Pakistan’s bordering areas with Afghanistan and Iran, and formulating a comprehensive strategy soon.

Highlighting the importance of markets for the prosperity of people residing in the merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and bordering areas of Balochistan, he said the establishment of border markets would not only create employment opportunities for the local population but also help check smuggling.

The prime minister expressed these views while presiding over a meeting here to review progress regarding the establishment of border markets in bordering areas with Afghanistan and Iran.

Advisor to the PM Abdul Razak Dawood, special assistants Moeed Yusuf, Dr. Waqar Masood and Dr. Shehbaz Gill, and senior officers were present in the meeting, which was also attended by Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi and senior officers concerned through video-link.

The meeting was briefed about the federal and provincial level measures taken so far regarding the establishment of proposed border markets for the provision of better business opportunities to the local population at Pak-Afghan and Pak-Iran borders, promotion of trade and employment opportunities for the youth.


The meeting was informed about the draft PC-1 and the progress on negotiations with Iran and Afghan authorities for establishment of 18 proposed border markets, out of which four would be established under a pilot project.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan Ascends to 111th Position in the Trading Across Border Index: FBR

• Pakistan has improved its rankings by 31 positions in the Trading Across Border Index.
• The country has also ascended 28 places in World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business 2020' Index.

Kashaf Ali
19 Jan 2021

Pakistan has improved its rankings in the Trading Across Border Index by 31 positions, moving up from the 142th to the 111th. According to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), this major achievement was only possible because of increased efforts directed towards ensuring ease of doing business in the country.
While Pakistan climbed up the ladder in the Trading Across Border Index to the 111th position, it simultaneously also moved up 28 places – from 136th to 108th – in World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business 2020' Index.

Moreover, achievement of these two milestones has led Pakistan to become the sixth reformer globally and the first in South Asia to have improved ease of doing business in national and international trade.


Federal Board of Revenue was able to make trading across borders easier by focusing three crucial areas:

1. Enhancing the integration of various agencies in the Web-Based One Customs electronic system;
2. Reducing the number of documents required for import and export clearances;
3. Enhancing capacities of Customs officials for playing proactive role in regulating border trade.

While border facilitation has been one of the top priority areas of the Government, concerted efforts by Pakistan Customs, under FBR, has also led to impressive performance in terms of compliance to the provisions of World Trade Organization (WTO)’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, complementing Pakistan’s ascend in Trading Across Border Index.


Pakistan Customs also devised strategies to ensure implementation of effective custom controls to facilitate compliant trade, while subjecting lesser or non-compliant trade to greater scrutiny. These measures have allowed Pakistan Customs to not only reduce the dwell time for imports and exports at the borders and ports, but also increase the percentage of clearances through the Green Channel.
In order to further improve Pakistan’s position in Trading Across Border criterion, Federal Board of Revenue is pursuing simultaneous completion of Regional Improvement of Border Services (RIBS) and Pakistan Single Window.

RIBS is currently being implemented at Torkham, Chaman, and Wahga to improve border-crossing facilities. On the other hand, the Pakistan Single Window plans on integrating at least 46 departments or agencies online to make trading across borders a hassle free and seamless process.

 

[El Sidd]

multiple threads created by Iranians about the same speech by the regimes true leader.

 

[ghazi52]

Yes, proud of it.