<p><a href="/en/afganistan/kabul" class="glossify-link">KABUL</a> remained deprived of benefits the Transports Internationaux Routiers or International Road Transports (TIR) offered to its member states.</p>
<p>TIR, an international customs transit system for goods carried by road, facilitates international movement of goods across the borders of countries that have ratified the TIR Convention, while offering a high level of security.</p>
<p> The TIR System enables door-to-door transport with minimum interference at the international borders of contracting parties to the TIR Convention and thus serves, in the best possible way.</p>
<p>Afghanistan joined TIR Convention in 1976 but has since been not able to benefit from the system due to decades of war.</p>
<p>However, on September 4, 2013, the TIR was re-launched in Afghanistan and now Afghanistan is 58th country to enjoy facilitated and secure trade by the <a href="http://www.iru.org/en_iru_about_tir">TIR system</a>.</p>
<p>Mohammad Younus Momand, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) deputy head, on Wednesday told a 'TIR National Awarness Conference' here that Afghanistan lacked a specific policy to benefit from the TIR system.</p>
<p>He cited weak support from institutions involved and lack of awareness among drivers about the system as reasons the system could not be properly utilized.</p>
<p>He said TIR’s implementation and ensuring security for goods’ transfer would create job opportunities.</p>
<p>He said the conference on TIR was aimed at spreading awareness about the system and its implementation. Momand asked relevant organs to make serious efforts at implementing the system.</p>
<p>Momand also called upon security organs to ensure security on roads which could be used for TIR system.</p>
<p>Sayed Wali Sultan, deputy minister of transport and civil aviation, also spoke on the occasion, saying the TIR’s re-launch and complete implementation was a priority of the government.</p>
<p>He said the system’s execution would rescue Afghan trucks from extensive and time-consuming border checks at borders.</p>
<p>From 2013 up till now, about 17 lorries of commercial goods had been sent abroad and in exchange about 1,125 lorries entered the country under the TIR system, he said.</p>
<p>He said most companies were still not up to international standard and needed a lot of work.</p>
<p>Sultan believed awareness among officials and security on roads could help better implement the system in Afghanistan.</p>
<p>According to his information, currently dry-ports of Afghanistan such as Torkham of Nangarhar, Sher Khan of Kunduz, Spin Boldak of Kandahar, and Islam Qala of Herat and Nimroz should be used for utilizing TIR system.</p>
<p>sns/ma</p>
