ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir on Tuesday informed the Senate that land ports would be set up on Pakistan-Afghan border at Chaman and Torkham to regulate flow of goods and people.
During the question-hour, he said that a Land Port Authority Bill would be introduced in the Parliament soon for the purpose.
The minister said that during 2014-15 around 2.55 billion dollar transit trade took place with Afghanistan.
Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) 2010, he said, was signed by Pakistan keeping in view the bilateral relations between the two neighboring states.
According to international transit trade practices, the minister said no duties and taxes were levied on the goods in transit.
He said that Pakistan had not generated any direct revenue through transit as per the agreement.
However, he said that in the wake of APTTA-2010, Pakistani ports were getting business and the terminal operators were receiving considerable amounts in the form of port charges and scanning fees for handling of the transit trade cargo.
The freight forwarders and carrier equipment handlers also got benefit from the transit trade in monetary terms, he added.
Khurram Dastgir said that the transport companies were also earning on account of transportation of the transit cargo to and from Afghanistan.
He said that multiple businesses involving private sectors throughout the country alongside the transit trade routes also got a boost due to the volume of transit trade cargo.
He said that the cargo handlers including the customs agents, shipping agents, border agents and trackers installation companies, were also getting benefit from the trade.
Source: APP
