Businessmen want TAD implementation delayed by two months

PESHAWAR: Businessmen dealing in Pak-Afghan trade have demanded a two-month delay in the implementation of the recently enforced Temporary Admission Documentation (TAD) policy to allow clearance of long queues of trucks standing on both sides of the border in wait of permission for goods delivery.

The demand was made during a meeting of the Pak-Afghan Liaison Committee held at the Directorate of Transit Trade Model Custom Collectorate with Additional Director Transit Trade, Dr Tahir Iqbal Khattak.

According to a press release issued here on Friday, the meeting was attended by Coordinator for Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, Engr Manzoor Elahi, President Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi, VP Frontier Custom Agents Association, Imtiaz Ahmad Ali, All Pakistan Customs Clearing Agents Association Vice Chairman Farooq Ahmed, , President of North Waziristan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Qadirullah, Commercial Attache at the Afghan Consulate, Waheedullah Himat, Transport Attache, Syed Muhammad Faiz and others.

Sarhadi said the biggest issue faced by businessmen dealing in Pak-Afghan trade was difficulties being caused by the implementation of TAD policy.

“The TAD has caused severe sluggishness in the bilateral trade, creating long queues of goods laden heavy vehicles on both sides of the border”, Zia added.

Referring to a letter sent by President PAJCCI, Qazi Zahid Hussain to Federal Secretary of Commerce, Sarhadi said the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul was receiving an additional fee of USD100, but still issuance of TAD took a lot of time, inflicting losses on businessmen whose consignment remained stranded at border points.

The same practice of delay in issuance of TAD at the Afghan Consulate in Kabul is also being observed, Zia went on to add.

Due to negative impacts caused by the delay in clearance of trucks at border points due to TAD, Pak-Afghan trade is reducing and even shifting to Chabahar Port in Iran, PAJCCI coordinator said.

He mentioned the shortage of officials from relevant government departments in the liaison committee, which was impacting its functioning and effectiveness.

During the meeting, the participants raised the issue of checking of goods by different departments which caused slow processing of the vehicle clearance.

Replying to the demands made in the meeting, Additional Director Transit Trade, Dr. Tahir Iqbal Khattak assured the participants of taking action with mutual coordination and consultation of the business community for resolution of all problems.