KHYBER: In opposition to the authorities’ most recent policy change, clearing agents halted the import and export of trade goods through customs.
The protesting clearing agents argued that the customs officials were insisting on not being weighed or subjected to electronic scanning of the vehicles carrying Afghan imports before they reached the Torkham border.
They said that they couldn’t comply with the new rule as the traditions specialists could embroil them in capture of any stash whenever tracked down in any holder later during electric examining.
They claimed that during the electronic scanning, customs personnel had just recently recovered ammunition from an import vehicle. They claimed that the clearing agents were insisting on continuing with the previous system of goods clearance after weighing and scanning the vehicle and then handing the GD copy for each examined vehicle to the customs officials while the customs officials were insisting on issuing them a joint goods declaration (GD) copy after gate-in clearance had been completed.
In the meantime, Torkham customs officials stated that the new system was implemented to save time for both customs personnel and clearing agents, expedite the goods clearance process, and alleviate traffic congestion at the border.
