The committee will improve coordination between Customs authorities and goods transporters and address operational issues affecting Pakistan’s logistics network.
ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to establish a Joint Monitoring Committee comprising Customs authorities and representatives of goods transporters to address issues faced by the transport sector and strengthen coordination between the two sides.
The decision was taken during a detailed meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, who is also Convener of the committee constituted by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to address the concerns of goods transporters.
The meeting concluded discussions held during two days of negotiations with the All Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance in Islamabad.
Participants discussed short- and long-term measures to resolve issues faced by transporters in their dealings with Customs authorities. Various proposals submitted by the transport sector were also examined, with relevant government departments asked to provide recommendations.
Joint committee to improve Customs coordination
The proposed Joint Monitoring Committee is expected to provide a formal mechanism for regular coordination between Customs authorities and goods transporters.
The committee will focus on operational issues affecting the movement of commercial vehicles and work towards resolving complaints and improving efficiency across the logistics and supply chain network.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar, who attended the meeting through video link, assured transport representatives of immediate and full cooperation from his ministry on matters related to maritime affairs.
Senior officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) also presented recommendations on proposals submitted by the transporters.
Officials from port and shipping authorities and the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) briefed the meeting on matters relevant to the transport sector.
Modern weigh stations planned
Abdul Aleem Khan directed authorities to promptly address complaints raised by goods transporters regarding weigh stations.
He announced that state-of-the-art weigh stations with minimal human intervention would be established across all motorways.
The initiative is aimed at reducing human intervention, improving transparency and increasing efficiency in the weighing process for commercial vehicles.
The meeting also discussed proposals relating to the National Highway Authority (NHA) and Motorway Police, along with other issues affecting the movement of goods across the country.
Transporters back uniform axle-load policy
On the axle-load issue, representatives of the goods transporters expressed full support for Abdul Aleem Khan’s policy.
They stressed that axle-load violations should be controlled at their source through a uniform policy, rather than creating operational difficulties for transporters at different points along the country’s road network.
The five-hour meeting also included detailed discussions between senior officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and transport-sector representatives on issues concerning petroleum products and their transportation.
Transporters welcome government initiative
The All Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance delegation welcomed the government’s efforts and appreciated Abdul Aleem Khan for taking steps to address their concerns.
The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary for Communications, Chairman NHA, Inspector General Motorway Police and senior officials of relevant government departments.
Representatives of the transport sector, including Malik Shehzad Awan, Nasir Jafri, Owais Chaudhry, Qamar-uz-Zaman, Bakhtawar Khan and Shabar Malik, along with other office-bearers, participated in the discussions and presented their views on the issues and proposals under consideration.
The establishment of the Joint Monitoring Committee is expected to strengthen institutional coordination between Customs and the transport sector and provide a continuing forum for resolving operational difficulties affecting the country’s logistics, trade and supply chains.