Plan afoot to restart GITA service through railways

PESHAWAR: Authorities are contemplating to launch the Goods in Transit to Afghanistan (GITA) service through the Pakistan Railways after several years of suspension, officials said.

The government stopped the service through the railways a few years ago due to some issues, although it has been run through the highway unabated.Divisional Transportation Officer of Pakistan Railways Umar Riaz told The News that the GITA service earned the railways department adequate profits in the past. He confirmed that the authorities are now considering to resume the service.

However, an official requesting anonymity said there is also the issue of “bonded carriers” and “non-bonded carriers” when it comes to resumption of the service.The bonded carriers are those transporters who have been registered with the Pakistan Customs authorities and having proper licence.

The official said the customs authorities wanted the bonded carriers to transport the goods to Afghanistan and due to this reason their rates and fares are much higher than the non-bonded carriers.

“Currently, the bonded carriers are in a position to exploit the situation and charge a party too much. If non-bonded carriers are also allowed to transport the goods to Afghanistan, it will boost the trade, end monopoly of bonded carriers and also lead to a competition that would not cost the parties much money,” he added.

Meanwhile, an official of the Pakistan Customs also confirmed that the plan to restart GITA service through railways is being discussed in official circles. He added that the matter has been referred to the Federal Board of Revenue. He said currently the service is being run through bonded carriers.

When it was pointed out that the bonded carriers were charging the parties too much since they were in a dominant position, he said: “In fact, all the things are being followed under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement.”

He also said that in case of any loss due to theft of goods through the bonded carriers, the customs is responsible while the non-bonded carriers are responsible for their own goods that they transport.