Revival of railway system key to boost Pak-Afghan trade: FCAA President

PESHAWAR: The Frontier Customs Agents Association (FCAA) has urged for the activation of the railway system between Afghanistan and Pakistan to boost trade between the two brotherly neighbor countries. According to FCAA President Ziaul Haq, the absence of a functioning railway line since past two decades has led to the failure of the Afghan Trade Transit Port in Chaman. This has resulted in exporters from the province resorting to using private trucks to transport their goods to Karachi, leading to a significant setback for the province's largest industries, including gems, marble, handicrafts, furniture, honey, carpet, and matches.

Haq emphasized that it is crucial to utilize the Afghan Transit Trade Port instead of booking goods through Karachi Port. Additionally, the replacement of Afghan Transit Trade Cargo by private trucks has caused unemployment for more than 200 custom clearing agents in the province. Therefore, the activation of the railway system is essential to revive the Afghan Trade Transit Port and create job opportunities for custom clearing agents.

In a meeting with the newly-appointed Chief Collector Customs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Fiaz Anwar, a four-member delegation led by President Ziaul Haq presented recommendations to address the challenges in the way of a smooth trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The delegation highlighted that the issuance of provisional licenses for customs stations in Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, and Angoor Adda has led to ongoing illegal incidents. The delegation's recommendations will be instrumental in ensuring the smooth flow of trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and addressing the issue of illegal activities at customs stations.