Landi Kotal:
Negotiations between customs authorities and dealers have been shown to be successful, resulting in a temporary exemption from the origin certificate on Afghan imports until June 30.
According to Customs Collector Azood Mehdi, productive discussions were held with a delegation representing traders regarding the mandatory certificate of origin of goods imported from Afghanistan.
The collector clarified that the certificate under the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is a legal requirement for all Afghan imports.
However, a special exception has been provided for specific items, including cotton, beans, coal and soapstone.
A total of 667 cargo vehicles carrying these objects had been stopped at the Torkham border due to the absence of the required documentation.
These shipments will now be allowed approval when submitting a written statement, instead of the certificate, valid until 30 June.
After the deadline, all Afghan imports must be accompanied by the certificate of origin without exception.
Dealers have welcomed the temporary relief and expressed their gratitude to the customs authorities of flexibility and cooperation.
