Pakistan Customs facilitates first-ever multi-modal shipment via Karachi

KARACHI: The Pakistan Customs, in coordination with the National Logistic Company (NLC), has facilitated the first-ever multi-modal shipment under the TIR Convention.

Syed Irfan Ali, a spokesman for the Customs, said on Wednesday that the Pakistan Customs in coordination with NLC achieved a historic landmark by clearing the first-ever shipment under the multi-modal International Road Transport (TIR) convention Cust regime, enabling Pakistan to become a prominent regional player as a transit hub in the near future.

The uni-modal TIR system is already operating successfully under the umbrella of the Pakistan Customs. The NLC, in coordination with the Directorate General of Transit Trade, Karachi of Pakistan Customs, has now started the multi-model TIR transportation service for international business community.

To ensure the success of this historic shipment, the Directorate General of Transit Trade of Pakistan Customs and the NLC have been engaged in comprehensive coordination with key stakeholders, including the vessel operator, terminal operator QICT and WeBOC team. The Pakistan Customs timely coordinated with International Road Union (IRU), Geneva, and generated Electronic Pre-Declaration (EPD) through its WeBOC system in consultation with the NLC and PNC-ICC.

The inaugural ceremony was held at Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT), Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, where the first-ever multimodal TIR shipment arriving by sea from Nansha, China, at QICT, for onward transportation through land route to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

This endeavor is crucial in showcasing capabilities of handling and clearing TIR transit shipments through Pakistan within minimum possible time, thereby demonstrating commitment to international transit benchmarks.

Wajid Ali, Director General, Transit Trade, Karachi, was the chief guest of the inaugural ceremony, which was attended by Nasir Ali Shah, chairman of the Port Qasim Authority, Brigadier Asim Haider Shah, Commander NLC, Syed Fawad Ali Shah, Director Transit Trade, Karachi, Junaid Zamir, CEO DP World QICT, and prominent representatives of the business community.

Wajid Ali appreciated the role of the NLC, PQA, QICT, PNC-ICC and the Turkmenistan business community on the successful operation of the first TIR multi-modal consignment and expressed the commitment of Chairman FBR Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana and Dr. Farid Iqbal Qureshi, Member (Customs-Operations), to boost regional exports of Pakistan and international transit trade through Pakistan under the regime of TIR convention.

He hoped that this initiative will boost the transit trade through Pakistan and bring trading opportunities for Pakistani and regional business community. He further re-assured the maintenance of best international practices by the Pakistan Customs in facilitating regional and international trade.