Steps against smuggling at Afghan border: 86pc decrease in transit trade in Sept, 85pc in 1st quarter recorded

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has tightened measures against smuggling being carried out under the guise of transit trade.

In September 2024, there was a big decrease in Afghanistan’s imports from Pakistan under the transit trade. There was 86 per cent decrease in Afghan transit trade on an annual basis in September and 85pc decrease in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.

According to official sources, last month Afghan transit trade was recorded at $78.3 million, and in September 2023, the volume of Afghan transit trade was $545.1 million. As compared to August 2024, the Afghan transit trade decreased by 16pc in Sept 2024. According to sources, during the first quarter of the current financial year, from July to September 2024, there was a decrease of 85pc in Afghan transit trade on an annual basis. It was recorded at $269.4 million this year, while the volume of Afghan transit trade in July to September 2023 last year was $1,767.9 million.

According to sources, there was a decrease of $4.21 billion in the Afghan transit trade last fiscal year. In the fiscal year 2023-24, the volume of Afghan transit was $2.887 billion, while in the fiscal year 2022-23, the Afghan transit trade was recorded $7.095 billion.