Govt to install ITMS at Wagah, Torkham, Chaman borders

ISLAMABAD: The government on Monday decided to install the Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITMS) at Wagah, Torkham and Chaman borders at an estimated cost of around $300 million by opening a bidding process in order to facilitate trade.
Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar here on Monday chaired the 5th meeting of the Steering Committee on the ITMS.
The Chairman of FBR, Tariq Bajwa, stated that the special committee which had been formed to examine the project cost had completed its study and the cost had been revised downwards to $300 million.
Based on the deliberations on the subject among the stakeholders, he further proposed that competitive bidding for the Chaman and Torkham Border Crossing Points (BCP) might be held between the NLC and FWO.
For Wagha, international competitive bidding may continue as planned, the chairman FBR added. The steering committee after detailed deliberations approved these proposals.
The minister asked the chief coordinator FBR to impress upon all relevant agencies to expedite work on the ITTMS project and said that the proposal on the project should be submitted to the Ecnec in its forthcoming meeting for final approval.
The ITTMS, it may be added, aims to improve trade facilitation at key border crossing points and envisages to help Pakistan become a hub of trade activities in the region.
Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, Country Director ADB Werner Liepach and senior officials of various ministries and departments attended the meeting.