LANDIKOTAL
Senior Vice President, Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi on Sunday said that they appreciate the decision taken by Pakistan government of introducing a year multiple Entries visa for Afghan drivers to boost cross border trade.
He said it would be a further step to enhance bilateral trade and streamline border management. He said Pakistan has recently announced a new policy of granting Afghan drivers and transporters multiple visa policy which all the traders and exporters welcomed it.
“The step taken by government would help in reducing the hindrances in Pak-Afghan trade via Torkham and other trade routes with Afghanistan, and transit trade by facilitating passage of good laden trucks between the two countries,” Zia said.
Ziaul Haq Sarhadi,who is also Executive Member Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), made some suggestions of making the new policy more practical and long lasting.
He said before the visa policy, government had decided to issue TAD-1 documents for Afghan drivers, with a one year validity.
Initially the visa fee for TAD was set at $100, but during processing fee increased to $500 and $1,000, created problems for drivers and traders.
Zia said measures should be taken to ensure implementation of fixed fee for new visa issuance policy so that drivers not to pay additional amount. Sarhadi also suggested to establish a desk at Torkhem border point for visa issuance and renewal for drivers and cleaners.
He also recalled issuance of `Red Pass’ by Pakistan government in late 80’s to people associated with Pak-Afghan trade who keep on traveling across the border for business purpose.
“Revival of Red Pass policy will also help in expediting cargo traveling procedure and timing in Pak-Afghan trade”, Zia opined.
He said visiting of drivers to embassies for application submission and other formalities would be time consuming and could cause delay in transportation of import-export bound goods between the two countries.
