Pakistan has made it mandatory for cargo trucks from Afghanistan to register for “temporary entry permits” to enter the country.
The decision was made by the Pakistani government on Friday, according to a report by The Express Tribune published on Sunday, May 26.
According to report, the new rule requires Afghan cargo trucks to register with the Directorate of Transit Trade offices in Peshawar and Quetta.
This registration is necessary to obtain temporary entry documents (TED) for access into Pakistan, the report said.
According to the report, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has amended the Customs Rules, 2001, stipulating that Afghan goods can only transit through routes specified in the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA). No other routes, whether by sea or land, are permitted for APTTA goods.
To obtain the TED, transport operators must provide a certified copy of the vehicle owner’s computerized national identity card, the vehicle registration book, the vehicle fitness certificate, and a declaration of responsibility for the safe transportation of goods under transit trade, the report said.
The report added that drivers and cleaners of these vehicles are exempted from any fees.
The Express Tribune reported that in cases where a vehicle is damaged in an accident, or if the driver or cleaner is injured or falls ill during the journey and needs to stay beyond 30 days, the matter will be referred to the concerned country.
The APTTA, signed between Pakistan and Afghanistan, aims to facilitate the smooth transit of goods between the two countries, boosting economic activity. However, the agreement has faced challenges, including issues of smuggling and the use of unauthorized routes.
Pakistan makes a big part of the market for Afghanistan’s exports, but traders often face issues in export of goods to the neighboring country.
