Pakistan has partially resumed Afghan transit trade operations after a 10-day suspension, following the “immediate ceasefire” agreement reached with the Afghan Taliban government in Doha.
According to customs officials, clearance of around 300 stranded vehicles has now begun under a phased restoration plan.
Initially, the transit trade operations through the Chaman border have been resumed. The Directorate of Transit Trade (Customs) has issued a detailed notification outlining a three-phase process for restoring cargo movement.
The directive states that all routine transit operations will resume on a “first-in, first-out” basis once the existing backlog is cleared.
In the first phase, nine vehicles that were sent back from the Friendship Gate due to the border closure will be cleared. These vehicles will undergo re-weighing and re-scanning, and any discrepancies will trigger 100% physical inspection.
In the second phase, 74 vehicles that were returned from the NLC Border Terminal Yard will be processed. These will also be subjected to re-weighing and re-scanning, and in case of any irregularities, comprehensive checking will be conducted.
Further phases will focus on clearing the remaining backlog before full restoration of normal transit operations.
