Parliamentary panel wants ATT to resume immediately

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Amid the Covid-19 outbreak, 1,900 containers with Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) items are stuck at Pakistan’s Karachi Port.

The stranded containers hurting export orders, the Ministry of Commerce informed the relevant National Assembly Standing Committee on Wednesday.

At a meeting, chaired by lawmaker Syed Naveed Qamar, the panel urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to take steps for the immediate resumption of Afghan Transit Trade.

The ministry, however, explained there was no restriction on ATT. The problem had arisen due to the suspension of trade after the Covid-19 outbreak, it added.

Besides ATT, the committee was told, the ministry was also considering resuming bilateral trade with Afghanistan. Kinnow were ready for export once the lockdown comes to an end.

The commerce secretary told the panel exports would be certified by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to make sure there was no shortage of supplies in the local market.

He confirmed the ministry had banned the shipment of face masks without the issuance of no-objection certificates.

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