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Customs asked to clear held-up goods imported under ATTA

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The government has directed Customs to clear all goods imported under Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA) held up since 1995. The total number of consignments comprising mostly electronics and kitchen items held-up under various rulings issued by the Central Board of Revenue is over 360. The government has also waived all demurrage on these goods.

The Collectorate of Customs (Appraisement) has asked all importers and clearing agents dealing with ATTA to submit documents for clearance of the held-up goods so that their papers could be processed expeditiously as directed by the Chief Executive's Secretariat.

Customs (Appraisement) Collector Dr. Manzoor Ahmed, told Business Recorder that special arrangements had been made to do the clearing operations since the quantity of goods to be cleared is enormous. He said that additional staff had been assigned to the concerned departments to complete the job as quickly as possible.

The step taken by the Chief Executive to release all goods imported under Afghan Transit Trade stopped by the previous government under various pretexts is to create goodwill with the neighbouring Afghanistan. Which has given all out support to Pakistan.

According to informed sources, there are two big lots of goods imported under ATTA but were held-up under a ban imposed by the CBR on 17 items mostly air conditioners in 1996. Though, the Supreme Court had declared the ban null and void the importers did not turn up to clear their goods due to accummulation of huge demurrage at the port. The number of consignments in this category is estimated to be 260. Now the Chief Executive has waived the demurrage on such consignments.

The second lot of goods imported under ATTA belonged to 1999 when the previous government decided to impose a ban on import of cosmetics and some kitchen items. The number of such consignments is said to be about 100.

The directive of the Chief Executive's Secretariat ordering clearance of all held-up goods importers under ATTA will not only form a friendly gesture towards Afghanistan but will also eliminate congestion at the Karachi Port creating space for fresh imports.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have recently held talks in Islamabad to revise the ATTA as the existing treaty has become obsolete with the changed trade conditions. A new transit trade agreement conforming to the norms of trade stipulated by the WTO is expected to be signed by them shortly.

The new agreement will also include Port Qasim as second port of entry for Afghan transit goods. There is tremendous scope for imports under transit at Qasim International Container Terminal which has modern cargo handling facilities.