Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The Pakistan government has announced measures to tighten its grip on Afghan transit trade. On Tuesday, Islamabad unveiled a 10 percent processing fee for items imported under the Afghan transit trade agreement in what it says is to combat smuggling and ensure proper taxation, addressing concerns about illegal goods entering the country.
The announcement takes place amidst growing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, making it even more pivotal. Authorities suspect that certain goods are being rerouted back into Pakistan, despite their intended destination being Afghanistan.
Furthermore, Pakistan’s caretaker government has issued a ban on 212 items associated with Afghan transit trade. The Ministry of Commerce has officially notified this ban, covering a wide range of products. Notably, 17 types of cloth, all varieties of tires, three types of tea, dry fruits, almonds, fresh fruits, cosmetics, and numerous toiletry items are now prohibited from passing through the Afghan transit trade route. Additionally, the ban extends to refrigerators, air conditioners, juicers, mixers, blenders, flasks, and more.
The Customs Department has specified that the fee, calculated at 10 percent ad valorem based on the original value of goods, must be paid in advance during the declaration process for Afghan transit commercial goods entering Afghanistan via Pakistan. However, goods declarations filed prior to October 3rd are exempt from these new provisions.
Officials have reported a recent surge in cargo volume, exceeding Afghanistan’s transit trade demand of $1 billion to $2 billion annually. The imposition of this fee is expected to act as a deterrent to those involved in illicit trading, according to a statement by an official.
It’s worth noting that this announcement occurs against the backdrop of ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan has issued an order for all illegal immigrants, including 1.73 million Afghan nationals, to leave the country or face expulsion. In response, a spokesman for the Taliban administration in Kabul deemed Pakistan’s threat to forcibly expel Afghan immigrants as “unacceptable,” asserting that Afghans should not be blamed for Pakistan’s security concerns.
