Landi Kotal:
Negotiations between customs authorities and traders have proven to be successful, which led to a temporary exemption for the requirement of the certificate of origin on Afghan imports until June 30.
According to the customs collector Azood Mehdi, productive discussions took place with a delegation representing traders concerning the certificate of compulsory origin for goods imported from Afghanistan.
The collector said that by virtue of the Federal Board of Return (FBR) regulations, the certificate is a legal requirement for all Afghan imports.
However, a special exemption has been granted for specific products, including cotton, beans, coal and soap stone.
In total, 667 loading vehicles carrying these articles had been interrupted on the Torkham border due to the absence of the required documentation.
These shipments will now be authorized at the grip when submission of a written affidavit, instead of the certificate, valid until June 30.
After the deadline, all Afghan imports must be accompanied by the original certificate without exception.
The merchants welcomed temporary relief and expressed their gratitude to customs authorities for flexibility and cooperation.
