Officials, traders discuss Pak-Afghan transportation

LANDIKOTAL: A joint meeting of government departments, traders and Customs Agents Union was held at Torkham customs compound where they discussed cooperation for smooth transportation from and to Afghanistan.

The meeting, chaired by Additional Collector of Customs Muhammad Rizwan, saw the participation of officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), police, anti-narcotics, district administration, and Torkham custom clearance agents.

The attendees were briefed on the constraints and challenges faced due to various reasons. Customs officials highlighted that trade activities were severely affected by poor coordination and a lack of communication between traders and authorities. Azeemullah, the president of the transporters’ union, elaborated on the problems faced by truckers and traders.

The problems and difficulties encountered by traders and truckers were also discussed, with a particular focus on the slow documentation process being a major hindrance that consistently delayed transportation to and from Afghanistan.

Customs and other officials listened to the participants and pledged to address their problems. The meeting participants also reached a consensus to take practical steps to expedite customs clearance, enhance bilateral trade, and control the influx of vehicles.