In a bid to ease longstanding challenges in Pak-Afghan bilateral and transit trade, a delegation of traders, led by Fazal Moqeem Khan, President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), met with Chief Collector Customs, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Jamil Nasir, at the Model Customs House in Peshawar.
(more…)Tag: Afghanistan
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Deadline Expires in Two Days for Illegal Foreign Nationals in Pakistan
As the clock ticks down to Tuesday, October 31, 2023, illegal foreign nationals in Pakistan are facing a crucial deadline to leave the country voluntarily.
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Pakistan Launches Probe into Issuance of Passports to Afghan Nationals Travelled to Saudi Arabia
Islamabad, October 17, 2023 – Pakistan has initiated an investigation into the issuance of Pakistani passports to Afghan nationals who have subsequently traveled to Saudi Arabia.
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Pakistan Announces Mega Operation Against Illegal Foreign Nationals
Islamabad, October 3, 2023 – Pakistan is set to launch a comprehensive operation against illegal foreign nationals residing in the country, with the operation scheduled to begin on November 1, 2023.
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Bangladesh Smash Afghanistan to Keep Super 4s Hope Alive
In an action-packed clash between Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Group B of the Asia Cup 2023 held at Lahore, Bangladesh showcased their prowess both with the bat and ball, securing a convincing 89-run victory. This victory was a must-win situation for the Bangladesh Tigers, and they delivered brilliantly.
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Pakistan Dominates Afghanistan with a 3-0 ODI Series Sweep
Pakistan secured a commanding 59-run victory over Afghanistan, completing a decisive 3-0 clean sweep in the ODI series. This victory also propelled Pakistan to the pinnacle of the ODI rankings, a strategically timed achievement just ahead of the Asia Cup.
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FBR increases customs valuation for Afghan coal by 69%
KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has increased the customs valuation of imported coal of Afghanistan origin by 69 per cent to $140 per metric ton.
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Pakistan allows duty exemption on coal import from Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has allowed exemption of customs duty on import of coal from Afghanistan.
The country’s apex revenue authority i.e. Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued SRO 968(I)/2022 to exempt customs duty on import of certain items, including coal from Afghanistan.
Earlier this week Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif approved the import of super-critical quality coal from Afghanistan in Pakistani rupee instead of dollars to help generate low-cost electricity in the country.
READ MORE: Govt. may exempt customs duty in emergency situation
The prime minister, chairing a meeting to improve the mechanism for transportation of Afghan coal, expressed concerns over the rising price of coal in the international market.
He said the rise in coal price was also one of the reasons behind the generation of expensive electricity by the coal power plants operating in the country.
He viewed that the import of Afghan coal in Pakistani currency would save the foreign exchange.
The prime minister was told that the import of Afghan coal – initially for Sahiwal and Hub power plants – would save around $2.2 billion annually.
READ MORE: Rate of customs duty in Pakistan on imports
The FBR allowed duty exemption on import of following goods: Description (Pakistan Customs Tariff)
Other Coal (2701.1900)
Bituminous coal (2701.1200)
Talc (2526.1010)
Marble (Crude or roughly trimmed) (2515.1100)
Plants & parts of plants (including seed & fruit) (1211.9000)
Seeds of cumin neither crushed nor grounded (0909.3100)
Sulphur of all kinds, other than sublimed sulphur (2503.0000)
Yams (Dioscorea spp.) (0714.3000)
Containers (including containers for the transport of fluids) (8609 0000)
The FBR said that the SRO would take effect from July 01, 2022.
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Pak-Afghan commerce ministers to meet on February 28
ISLAMABAD: The commerce ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan will meet on Sunday February 28, 2022 to witness cross border movement of pedestrians and vehicles, according to a statement issued on Friday.
A high powered delegation led by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production, and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood, accompanied by Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq, is scheduled to meet Afghan Minister of Commerce and his team at Torkham border on February 28.
READ MORE: List of goods export to Afghanistan in PKR, no E-form
This was informed during the meeting of Afghanistan Inter-Ministerial Coordination Cell (AICC). The two delegations will visit the Torkham border to witness cross border movement of pedestrians and vehicles.
The scheduled meeting will discuss various important matters related to smooth movement of people and patients across the border, issuance of temporary admission documents, increase in timings of border crossing points, establishment of joint border infrastructure, training of Afghan nominees for trade related capacity building courses and smooth crossing of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
READ MORE: Pakistan establishes Afghanistan relief fund
Time frame for reinitiating the stalled Torkham-Jalalabad road project and start of luxury bus service between Peshawar-Jalalabad and Quetta-Kandhar will also be part of discussion.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced Rs. 5 billion package to assist Afghanistan in addressing the impending humanitarian and economic crisis.
READ MORE: Pakistan donates 50,000MT wheat to Afghanistan
Under the package several initiatives have been taken by AICC including supply of lifesaving medicines and technical assistance for restoration and functioning of hospitals.
In addition to PM’s Relief Package, Pakistan is also sending relief goods and food supplies to Afghanistan on daily basis.
Recently, a delegation of Afghan Chambers also visited Pakistan and held discussions with the business community to explore trade opportunities between the two countries.
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List of goods export to Afghanistan in PKR, no E-form
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has expanded the list of goods for export to Afghanistan and through Afghanistan to Central Asian Republics without requirement of E-form and against Pakistan Rupee (PKR).
In this regard the ministry of commerce issued SRO176(I)/2022 dated February 04, 2022 to amend Export Policy Order 2020.
READ MORE: Pakistan establishes Afghanistan relief fund
As per the export policy order, export goods to Afghanistan and through Afghanistan to Central Asian Republics are allowed against Pakistan currency on filing of regular shipping bills without the requirement of E-form.
READ MORE: Pakistan donates 50,000MT wheat to Afghanistan
Prior to the amendment, the allowed goods are included: fruits; vegetables; dairy products; and meat. However, after the amendment more number of goods have been added to the list, which included: rice; fish and fish products; poultry, meat and products; sugar confectionary and bakery products; fruits, nuts and other edible parts of plants; oilcake and other solid residues; vegetable materials and vegetable waste; salt; cement; pharmaceuticals; matches; textile and textile articles; building stone; and surgical instruments.
READ MORE: FBR rebuts currency smuggling to Afghanistan
As per the Export Policy Order, 2021, the goods are not entitled to: zero rating of sales tax on taxable goods; rebate of central excise duty; and payment of drawback of customs duty.
READ MORE: Index gains 346 points on better Afghanistan situation