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.
The gathering aimed to develop a strategic approach to streamline cross-border trade processes, particularly at the Azakhel dry port and Peshawar’s dry port, which are vital hubs for trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Senior officials, including SCCI Senior Vice President Abdul Jalil Jan, former SCCI President Faiz Muhammad Faizi, and chamber executives Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, Aftab Iqbal, and Ashfaq Ahmad, attended the meeting alongside traders. Customs officials, including Collector Customs (Appraisement) Mateen Alam, Collector Customs (Enforcement) Ziaul Shams, and Additional Collector Customs Torkham Shakir Muhammad, also participated in discussions. Traders expressed their concerns regarding the sluggish clearance process for goods consignments and other obstacles that complicate Pak-Afghan trade and transit operations.
The business community highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between the SCCI and the Customs Department to address these issues with shared initiatives. The delegation presented detailed proposals to expedite clearance processes, improve operational efficiency, and mitigate delays caused by procedural challenges, including customs squad practices and document filing.
Chief Collector Customs Jamil Nasir responded positively, directing officials on-site to address immediate grievances and expedite processing for traders. He emphasized that Customs is actively implementing modern techniques to speed up consignment clearance and facilitate cross-border trade. Nasir stressed the importance of consistent dialogue with SCCI to promptly tackle export and trade issues, proposing regular meetings to address ongoing challenges.
During the meeting, it was noted that delays in consignment clearances often stem from the non-filing of Goods Documents (GDs). As a solution, traders were urged to promptly submit GDs to reduce delays in shipment processing. Chief Collector Customs Nasir presented data on delayed shipments linked to incomplete GDs, underlining the need for timely submission to accelerate the clearance process and enhance trade efficiency.
Nasir assured the delegation that Customs would implement information-based actions through its squads, mandating uniformed duty hours for better accountability. An online monitoring system will be introduced at the Model Customs House in Peshawar to enhance oversight, with a strict stance on corruption and commitment to evidence-based action against any violations.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to fostering transparency, efficiency, and mutual cooperation to strengthen Pak-Afghan trade relations, offering hope for smoother and more productive cross-border trade in the region.