Misuse of Afghan transit trade should be checked

Misuse of Afghan transit trade should be checked

KARACHI: Smuggling through Afghan Transit Trade has always been the biggest threat for economic growth and hardly any sector has been left untouched by this menace.

Pakistan Business Council (PBC) in its proposals for budget 2020/2021 said that smuggled goods through the borders of Afghanistan, Iran China, India and the Afghan Transit Trade form a chunk of the informal economy, volume of which ranges between 50 to 60 percent of the formal economy.

It is costing the national exchequer in billions. Markets across the country are flooded with smuggled goods and local industries are struggling for survival as smuggled goods are not only easily available everywhere but are also attracting the buyers who prefer foreign merchandise Goods moving under ATT from Pakistan to Afghanistan should be charged with duties and taxes under the Pakistani laws and the same should be transferred to Afghan Government.

Secondly, the duties/taxes so paid should be deposited with State Bank in USD.

A quantitative restriction should be applied on goods moving under ATT on the basis of consumption.

Allow industry to fairly compete with unscrupulous imports, Government to benefit from increased revenue.