Businessmen oppose import from India

PESHAWAR: The businessmen here on Wednesday opposed the proposal to allow Afghanistan to import goods from India through the Wagah-Attari border, terming the move against the Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA) and interests of the local industries.

“The Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement was bilateral, not trilateral as per the WTO [World Trade Organisation] rules, so the proposal couldn’t be workable and feasible,” said Shahid Hussain, Acting President of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

He said this while addressing a meeting on the proposed amendments to the ATTA. It was held under auspices of Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI ) at the Chamber's House here.

Vice-President Abdul Jalil Jan, PAJCCI Senior Vice-President Khalid Shahzad, Director Joint Chamber Naumul Haq, Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, Women Chamber of Commerce President Rukhsana Nadir, Faiza, Syed Jawad Hussain, Said Mehmood, Syed Ali Hammad, Syed M Zubair, Tufail Gurwara, Farooq Ahmad, Imtiaz Ahmad Ali, Ammar Ansari and Gul Rehman attended the meeting.

The SCCi chief said if Afghanistan was allowed to import goods from India via Wagah border, it would ultimately damage the local industries and trigger joblessness. He said the proposal was unacceptable keeping in view the interests of the local businesses. He demanded permission for loose cargo to boost the Pak-Afghan transit trade.

Expressing concern over the imposition of Axle Load Regime by the government, the SCCI head said the business community was facing financial losses due to its enforcement and demanded its withdrawal to ensure equal implementation of all relevant laws.

He urged the government and State Bank of Pakistan to clear rebate of the business community under the heads of security and demurrage and called for bringing ease in the system to save traders and exporters from financial losses.

The SCCI chief said businessmen should be allowed to transport transit goods in all modes of transportation, including bonded carriers, Pakistan Railway and National Logistic Cell to for competition among transportation services.

Shahid Hussain opposed 100 per cent checking of cargo instead of 5 per cent by Customs authorities, saying that the business community was suffering financial losses due to load, unload, repacking and demurrage. He termed the high regulatory duties and tariffs as the biggest hurdle to the Pak-Afghan trade, which should be reduced.

The SCCI chief urged the government to take practical steps to eliminate collection extortion and illegal taxes on different checkpoints on the main highways and routes in the country.