KARACHI: The text of agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan called Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) 2010.
The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, from here on referred to as the Contracting Parties, desirous of strengthening the economic ties between their two countries on a mutually beneficial basis, recognising the right of Afghanistan to freedom of access to the sea as an essential principle for the expansion of its international trade and economic development, recognizing the importance of the North-South Corridor for Pakistan in relation to trade with Central Asia and for Afghanistan in relation to trade with ECO and SAARC countries, reiterating their commitment to ensure the smooth, rapid and efficient movement of goods and vehicles between and through the territories of the two countries, recalling the objectives and principles enunciated in the Convention on High Seas (Geneva 1958) and the ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement (Almaty, 1998), recalling further the WTO rules and provisions under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT, 1994, Article V) concerning “Freedom of Transit”, considering that the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA) of 1965 does not take into account the current economic realities and the new international transit requirements, acknowledging the need for effective reciprocal transit services between the two Contracting Parties, have agreed as follows:
SECTION I: GENERAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE 1:
PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
The Contracting Parties agree to facilitate the movement of goods between and through their respective territories and to provide all possible facilities in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
The Contracting Parties shall take all necessary measures:
(a) to ensure the efficient and effective administration of transit transport, avoiding unnecessary delays in the movement of goods and commercial vehicles between and through their territories;
(b) to bring about the simplification, transparency and harmonisation of documentation and procedures relevant to traffic in transit;
(c) to promote intermodal freight transport;
(d) to cooperate with a view to minimising the incidence of customs fraud and avoidance; and,
(e) to monitor the trade of controlled chemical substances with the aim of preventing their diversion for illicit purposes.
ARTICLE 2:
DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meaning hereby assigned to them:
Authority means the Afghanistan — Pakistan Transit Trade Coordination Authority established by the Contracting Parties for the implementation and monitoring of the Transit Agreement;
Bilateral trade means exchange of goods and services between two countries;
Carriers/transport operators means legal or natural person responsible for the transport of goods by rail, road, either directly or using a third party, and by whom, or in whose name, a contract of carriage for hire or reward has been concluded;
Container means standardised receptacle or loading unit for freight to enable
(i) loading and unloading (ii) movements by one or more modes of transport, without intermediate reloading and (iii) locking and sealing; Control services means the relevant law enforcement authorities and services responsible for carrying out all or part of the controls, other than Customs control, to the importation, exportation or transit of goods which include Medico-sanitary, veterinary, and phyto-sanitary inspections;
Cross border traffic means traffic originating from the territory of one contracting party that ends up in the territory of the other contracting party;
Customs means the Government Service which is responsible for the administration of Customs laws and the collection of import and export duties and taxes and which also has responsibility for the application of other laws and regulations relating, inter alia, to the importation, transit and exportations of goods.
Customs control means measures applied to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations relating to the importation, transit and exportation of goods which the Customs are responsible for enforcing;
Customs transit means procedure through which goods are transported under Customs control from one Customs office of one contracting party to Custom office of other contracting party under suspension of payments of taxes and duties.
Dangerous goods mean goods posing a significant risk to health and environment, security and property when being transported or lying in storage;
Domestic legislation means the entire body of national or local laws and regulations in force in respective countries of the contracting parties;
Examination of goods means the process of physical ascertainment by Customs of nature, origin, condition, quantity and value with reference to transit documents submitted, with understanding that this definition is applicable to only up to 5% of the goods under risk management system.
Custom office means that the Customs administrative unit competent for the performance of the Customs formalities and the premises approved for that purpose by the competent authorities.
Freight forwarder means a natural or legal person having a contract of freight forwarding services with a shipper;
Freight forwarding services means services of any kind relating to the carriage, consolidation, storage, handling, packing or distribution of the goods. They include also services in connection with Customs and fiscal matters, declaring the goods for official purposes, procuring bank guarantee and insurance for the goods and collecting or procuring payment or documents relating to the goods;
Import duties and taxes means Customs duties and all other duties, taxes, and other charges levied in accordance with domestic legislation on, or in connection with, the importation of goods, but not including the cost of services rendered;
Inspection of Goods means the superficial process of confirmation that the marks and numbers of bulk in open cargo and container number and seal number for the containerized cargo are in accordance with the particulars furnished in the Goods Declaration or bill of lading;
International transport means transport between the territories of the two Contracting Parties (bilateral traffic) or through the territory of the other Contracting Party (transit traffic);
Home country means for transport operators, the country of establishment, and for vehicles, the country of registration;
Host country means the country where transportation of goods is performed; Intermodal freight transport means movement of goods in one and the same loading unit (container) Which successively uses two or more different modes of transport, without the goods themselves being handled;
Internal traffic means carriage of goods loaded in the territory of a Contracting Party for unloading at a location within the territory of the same Contracting Party; internal traffic is also referred to as “sabotage”;
Means of transport means road vehicles and railway rolling stock;
National treatment means a Contracting Party shall grant treatment to services and service suppliers of the other Contracting Party, no less favourable than that which it accords to its own like services and service suppliers;
Permit means a document, identifiable by the biometric device, whereby the driver and cleaner of a vehicle shall be allowed to cross border,
Port of Entry/Exit means an officially designated location at seaports, Airport and or Customs stations where Customs officers or employees are assigned to accept declarations of merchandise and vehicles, control import & exports, clear passengers, collect duties, and enforce the various provisions of customs, immigration and related laws.
Protocol means a document attached to this Agreement setting out specific technical and administrative arrangements;
Quota means the number of vehicles permits issued annually by the competent authorities of each Contracting Party based on transit transport needs;
Shipper means any natural or legal person by whom or in whose name or on whose behalf a contract of carriage of goods has been concluded with a carrier, or any person by whom or in whose name or on whose behalf the goods are actually delivered to the carrier in relation to the contract of carriage of goods;
Temporary Admission Document (TAD) means a document issued by a competent authority of one Contracting Party that allows vehicles registered in the territory of the other Contracting Party to enter or exit or transit through its territory;
Third country means a country that is not a Contracting Party to this Agreement;
Transit traffic means goods (including unaccompanied baggage) and vehicles in transit across the territory of a Contracting Party, when the passage across such territory, with or without transhipment, or change in the mode of transport, is only a portion of a complete journey which begins and ends beyond the borders of the Contracting Party across whose territory the traffic passes;
Transit country means a country through the territory of which the transit traffic passes;
Transit transport corridor means a route in the respective territories of the Contracting Parties for use by the other Contracting Party for their traffic in transit;
Transport for hire or reward means the carriage for remuneration, of goods, on behalf of third parties;
Transport for own account means a transport operation that is an ancillary activity of an enterprise aimed at moving the goods that are the object of its commercial activity in vehicles owned by the enterprise and operated by its employees;
Transport Operator (TO) means National Carriers who, in conformity with the internal legislation of their country are permitted to carry out international transport operations between the territories of the Contracting Parties or between his home country and to/from a third country through the territory of the other Contracting Party;
Transport unit: means aircrafts, freight containers of international specifications transported by road, railway wagons or road vehicle including trailers, semi trailers;
Through traffic means the transportation of goods from one point of departure outside the territory of the contracting parties with final destination outside their territory;
Vehicle means any rigid road vehicle, articulated vehicle, unaccompanied trailer or semi trailer;
Medico-sanitary inspection means the inspection exercised for the protection of the life and health of persons, with the exception of veterinary inspection;
Veterinary inspection the sanitary inspection applied to animals and animal products with a view to protecting the life and health of persons and animals, as well as that carried out on objects or goods which could serve as a carrier for animal disease;
Phyto-sanitary inspection means the inspection intended to prevent the spread and the introduction across national boundaries of pests, plants and plant products;
SECTION II
RIGHT OF TRANSIT
ARTICLE 3:
FREEDOM OF TRANSIT
1. There shall be freedom of transit through the territory of each contracting party, via the pre-settled routes most convenient for international transit, for traffic in transit to or from the territory of other contracting party. No distinction shall be made which is based on flag of the vessel, the place of origin, departure, entry, exit or destination, or on any circumstances relating to the ownership of goods, vessels or other means of transport
2. If any Contracting Party is of the opinion that some goods or class of goods being allowed in transit are smuggled back in its territory and are hurting the economy, industry or import revenue, it may file a complaint with the Authority, stating its grievances along with facts and figures and damage being caused to the Contracting Party. On receipt of the complaint, the Authority shall convene a meeting within three months of the filing of the complaint and may agree on taking any appropriate measures to address the problem.
SECTION III
TRANSIT TRANSPORT CORRIDORS
ARTICLE 4:
DESIGNATION OF TRANSIT TRANSPORT CORRIDORS
1. The routes used for transit traffic through Pakistan and Afghanistan shall include:
(i) maritime ports in Pakistan;
(ii) airports in Afghanistan and Pakistan, for air to air transit only;
(iii) transit rail/ road corridors through Pakistan and Afghanistan; and,
(iv) land stations between the Contracting Parties, or between one Contracting Party and a third country.
2. Annex 1 to this Agreement on “International Transit Transport Corridors and Ports of Entry and Exit” defines routes and points of entry and exit for the transport of goods in transit. These corridors may be discontinued or new ones added upon mutual written agreement.
ARTICLE 5:
SAFETY OF TRAFFIC IN TRANSIT
The Contracting Parties shall take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of traffic in transit along the transit routes specified in Annex 1 to this Agreement.
SECTION IV
FACILITATION OF TRANSIT TRADE
ARTICLE 6:
PROVISION OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
1. The Contracting Parties agree to build or upgrade the required infrastructure as listed under Annex 1 to this Agreement in accordance with international best practices and standards.
2. The Contracting Parties, with a view to ensuring the clearance of transit traffic without delay, agree:
a. to maintain or establish related infrastructure and Custom clearance facilities, within their national jurisdiction, physically adjacent, to each other as far as possible, so as to facilitate the inspection of the means of transport and their cargoes.
b. to cooperate in order to gradually achieve “coordinated controls” by which the officials of the Contracting Parties will carry out their inspection jointly and simultaneously;
c. to ensure that adequate human resources are made available for the speedy completion and clearance of border formalities, such as immigration, Customs, and other controls and inspections;
d. to coordinate the hours of operation of their adjacent Custom stations;
e. to provide facilities for priority clearance of commercial vehicles with the appropriate transit permits;
f. to provide adequate and secure parking space for container trucks and other vehicles awaiting clearance; and
g. to provide and maintain rapid and reliable telecommunication services.
SECTION V
GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR TRANSPORT IN TRANSIT
ARTICLE 7:
MARITIME PORTS
1. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan guarantees the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the right to use the ports of Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar Port, for the movement of goods in transit to and from Afghanistan in accordance with the official tariffs, rates and conditions applicable to other users of the ports without any discrimination.
2. Adequate sheds and spaces shall be made available for goods in transit to and from Afghanistan to accommodate the required traffic.
3. For dangerous goods, separate arrangements for storage shall be made available. ARTICLE ARTICLE 8:
OTHER PORTS OF ENTRY/EXIT
1. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan agrees to provide at the Afghan Ports of Entry/Exit listed under Annex 1 Section 1 the same facilities as mentioned under Articles 6 and 7 above and under Annex 1 Section 2 of this Agreement.
2. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan similarly agrees to provide at the Pakistani Ports of Entry/Exit listed under Annex 1 Section 1 the same facilities as mentioned under Articles 6 and 7 above and under Annex 1 Section 2 of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 9:
CHOICE OF MEANS OF TRANSPORT
The Contracting Parties agree to permit:
a. shippers to select, according to their needs, the mode and means of transport to be used for traffic in transit within the territory of the other Contracting Party;
b. all vehicles to remain within the specified routes of the territory of the other Contracting Party and to exit the same within specified time. In case of force majeure or breakdown, accident of vehicle, the time may be extended by the permit issuing authority of the host country.
ARTICLE 10:
LICENSING OF TRANSPORT OPERATORS
1. The Contracting Parties agree to harmonise and facilitate the requirements necessary for the carriage of goods into/from and through their own territories.
2. National Transport Operators in order to undertake international transport operations shall be licensed by the Contracting Party where they are commercially registered, according to the criteria set out in Protocol One to this Agreement – Section II “Criteria for Licensing Road Transport Operators for International Carriage of Goods in
Transit”.
ARTICLE 11:
EXCHANGE OF ROAD TRAFFIC RIGHTS
1. The national transport operators licensed for international transport operations in one of the Contracting Parties according to Article 10 shall be entitled to apply for Temporary Admission Document, in order to undertake transport operations of goods in transit to/from/through the territory of the other Contracting Party in accordance with Protocol One and Two of this Agreement.
2. Two types of transit Temporary Admission Document shall be issued as per procedure laid down in Protocols-One and Two:
a. Temporary Admission Document for transit traffic rights for the goods imported or exported by sea for transportation, through the territories of one or both the Contracting Parties;
b. Temporary Admission Document for transit rights for the goods not imported or exported by sea, i.e. to go through the territory of the other Contracting Party to pick up and deliver cargo to/from a third country provided both the Contracting Parties have Transport Agreement with the Third Country;
3. The Contracting Parties may agree to set up a quota system when issuing transit Temporary Admission Document to respect a fair share of traffic between the two Contracting Parties.
4. The vehicles carrying the Transit Cargo will be allowed to carry the return transit cargo from the territory of the other Contracting Party.
ARTICLE 12:
PROHIBITION OF INTERNAL TRANSPORT AND THIRD COUNTRY TRANSPORT
Unless specific permission has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the concerned Contracting Party, means of transport registered in one Contracting Party shall be prohibited from carrying:
a. goods loaded at a point in the territory of the other Contracting Party for delivery at any other point in that territory (sabotage)
b. goods from/to another country (third country) than the Operators home and these to be delivered/picked up to/from the territory of the other Contracting Party.
ARTICLE 13:
RAILWAYS TRANSPORT OPERATOR
1. The Contracting Parties shall extend national treatment to the transit goods by Railways.
2. The movement of Transit goods will be made as per Railways Rules & Regulations of the country through which the goods are in Transit.
3. In case a need arise for a separate Protocol on Railways, Contracting parties shall discuss and draft a new Protocol.
ARTICLE 14:
COMMERCIAL PRESENCE
Subject to Domestic legislation and clearance from the concerned authorities, the Contracting Parties agree to grant permission to freight forwarders and transport operators of the other Contracting Party to establish offices in their respective territories for the purpose of operating activities related to trade in transit. This permission of commercial presence shall be granted on the basis of reciprocity.
SECTION VI
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ADMITTANCE OF ROAD VEHICLES
ARTICLE15:
ADMITTANCE OF ROAD CARGO VEHICLE IN THE OTHER CONTRACTING PARTIES’ TERRITORY
The Contracting Parties shall admit to their territory vehicles whether left-hand or right-hand drive, (operated commercially), registered in the other Contracting Party, in accordance with the rules set out in Protocol One to this Agreement – Section One Technical Requirements for The Admittance of Road Vehicles.
ARTICLE 16:
MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF DRIVING LICENSE AND VEHICLE REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS
The Contracting Parties shall recognize domestic driving licenses, vehicle registration documents and vehicle license plates that are issued by the competent authorities of the other Contracting Party.
ARTICLE 17:
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS OF VEHICLE
Road transport vehicles shall conform to the technical requirements regarding dimensions, maximum weights and loads, emission standards and related matters with a view to harmonization and the establishment of common standards specified in Protocol One to this Agreement – Section One “Technical Requirements for the Admittance of Road Vehicles.”
ARTICLE 18:
MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF INSPECTION CERTIFICATE
1. Each Contracting Party undertakes to institute periodic inspection of road vehicles and other means of transport registered on its own territory and used for transit transport operations to ensure that they are in good working conditions and meet required safety standards;
2. The Contracting Parties shall recognize periodic inspection certificates of road vehicles and other means of transport used for transit transport operations issued by the other Contracting Party.
ARTICLE 19:
THIRD PARTY VEHICLE INSURANCE SCHEME
1. Road vehicles traveling to the territory of the other Contracting Party shall comply with requirements for compulsory third party vehicle liability insurance in the host country.
2. The Contracting Parties shall take all steps necessary to ensure that their motor vehicles registered in their respective territories have insurance that covers third party liability incurred in the course of transit traffic.
ARTICLE 20: MULTIPLE ENTRY TRANSIT PERMIT
1. The Contracting Parties shall, in accordance with their respective laws, rules and regulations, grant multiple entry permit valid for a period of six months each stay not exceeding 15 days to the drivers of the vehicles and the persons engaged in international transit traffic operations who are subject to permit requirements;
2. In exceptional cases when the permit expires while the driver holding the permit is in the Contracting State, the permit holder may refer to the Ministry of Interior and extend his/her permit. Conditions pertaining to Article 10.2 apply here as well.
3. Procedures for granting of permit, mentioned in paragraph 1 above, shall be simplified including reducing the number of documents required for the procurement of such permit.
4. Any change in validity of permit or period of stay shall be decided by APTTCA.
SECTION VII
CUSTOMS CONTROL AND OTHER CONTROLS
ARTICLE 21:
HARMONISATION AND SIMPLIFICATION OF CUSTOMS PROCEDURES
1. The Contracting Parties agree that all cargo to be transited through Pakistan and Afghanistan in:
a. containers of international specifications;
b. for a period of three year the cargo shall be allowed in internationally acceptable and verifiable standard of sealable trucks;
c. oversize and bulk cargo (not imported in containers–like ship load) shall be transported in open trucks or other transport units;
d. Export of perishable goods in transit (like fruits and vegetable etc) shall be transported in open trucks or other transport units.
2. in case of bulk or oversized cargo, which cannot be placed in sealed containers, other means of transport sufficiently secured for Customs and transit control purposes shall be used.
3. to limit Customs controls on the means of transport and goods in transit passing through their territories to the minimum required level to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations that the Customs is responsible to enforce;
4. up to 5 percent of containers arriving at port of entry will be subject to examination under the risk management system. No further inspection is allowed en route unless irregularity is suspected as provided in the Revised Kyoto Convention, 1999.
5. to encourage cooperative arrangements between their Customs services in order to ensure speedy customs clearance with minimum delay to transit traffic;
6. to accept mutual recognition of checks and findings undertaken by their respective Customs officials;
7. to be guided, whenever possible, by the standards and recommended practices of the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonisation of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention, 1999);
8. to implement the provisions specified in Protocol III to this Agreement on Customs Control and Transit Regime;
9. to authorize the importation of containers without the payment of duties and taxes subject to re-exportation and other conditions laid down in the Customs Convention on Containers (Geneva, 1972).
ARTICLE 22:
PHYTOSANITARY AND VETERINARY INSPECTION
The Contracting Parties may be guided by the multilateral agreements signed under the umbrella of: the World Health Organisation, Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Organisation of Animal Health and other related international organizations in applying inspection of goods crossing the border viz phyto-sanitary and veterinary inspection.
ARTICLE 23: SPECIAL PROVISION ON TRANSPORT OF PERISHABLE GOODS
1. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall endeavour to facilitate and speed up the transport of perishable goods and to grant a priority regime for border crossing clearance formalities to avoid undue delays.
2. The Contracting Parties agree to define phyto-sanitary measures and Customs requirements to allow direct transport of perishable goods without transshipment.
ARTICLE 24: SPECIAL PROVISION ON TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS GOODS,
1. The Contracting Parties agree to take into account the provisions of the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR-
1957, Geneva as amended 2007) for transit and cross border movements of dangerous goods.
2. The term Dangerous Goods are those substances and articles that are referred to as “Dangerous Goods” in Annexes A (General provisions and provisions concerning dangerous articles and substances) and B (Provisions concerning transport equipment and transport operations) of the ADR.
ARTICLE 25:
ARMS; AMMUNITIONS AND MILITARY GOODS
This Agreement shall exclude the transit of arms, ammunition and military equipments unless agreed upon by the two Contracting Parties.
ARTICLE 26:
CONTROL OF PRECURSORS AND CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES
The Contracting Parties agree to set out measures to strengthen their administrative cooperation to prevent the diversion of substances used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances as defined in Protocol Four to this Agreement on Control of Precursors and Chemical Substances used in the Illicit Manufacture of Narcotic Drugs or Psychotropic Substances.
ARTICLE 27:
HARMONISATION OF CUSTOMS CONTROLS AND OTHER CONTROLS
The Contracting Parties agree to harmonise border facilities for goods in transit as per international best practices. In particular, the Contracting Parties agree to make every effort to ensure that:
(a). Controls other than Customs controls of goods and vehicles in transit, by the relevant authorities responsible for the enforcement of applicable laws and regulations, shall be carried out in a harmonised manner with customs controls, simultaneously if possible, or with the minimum delay;
(b). Customs authorities may, through explicit delegation of powers by other control services, carry out on their behalf, all or part of the control for which these services are responsible. In this case, the relevant services will ensure that the Customs have the required means in terms of training, information and equipment to conduct properly these controls.
SECTION VIII
DOCUMENTATION AND PROCEDURES
ARTICLE 28:
DOCUMENTATION AND PROCEDURES
1. The Contracting Parties recognize that documentation and processing procedures can be costly and time consuming affecting the efficiency of transit operations, and that efforts should be made to reduce these costs and delays.
2. The Contracting Parties, therefore, agree to make effort:
a. to limit the number of documents and reduce, procedures and formalities required for traffic in transit;
b. to harmonize, as much as possible, codes and descriptions of commodities commonly used in international trade;
c. to consolidate procedures and documentation so that transit traffic will not be subjected to redundant requirements;
d. to periodically review the necessity and usefulness of all documents and procedures prescribed for transit traffic;
e. to adopt a risk management approach for transit traffic in order to reduce delays;
f. to establish a Customs Transit System, including a Customs Guarantee Coverage, for the cargo as mutually agreed;
g. to align their documents to the United Nations Layout Key (UNLK) for trade documents.
3. The documentation and procedures to be applied by the Contracting Parties in the implementation of this Transit Customs Regime are specified in Protocol Three attached to this Agreement on “Customs Control and Transit Regime”.
ARTICLE 29:
PUBLICATION OF PROCEDURES AND REGULATIONS
The Contracting Parties agree:
a. to give due advance notice to the other Contracting Party of any additional requirement or modification in prescribed documentation and procedures to be introduced with regard to traffic in transit;
b. to establish one or more enquiry points where traders and transporters may acquire specific information on relevant measures that affect traffic in transit. In particular, information shall be made available relating to Customs inspection, and on the certificates and documents required for fulfilling the Customs formalities.
SECTION IX
DUTIES, TAXES, CHARGES AND PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS
ARTICLE 30:
CUSTOMS DUTIES
The Contracting Parties agree that no customs duties and taxes shall be levied on goods in transit regardless of their destination and purpose.
ARTICLE 31: TEMPORARY ADMISSION OF MEANS OF TRANSPORT
1. The Contracting Parties agree to grant temporary admission to means of transport which is used or intended to be used, for the carriage of goods under the Customs transit regime through their territories.
2. In particular, motor vehicles (and the fuel contained in its standard supply tanks, its lubricants, maintenance supplies and spare parts in reasonable quantities) shall enter in the territory of the other Contracting Party without payment of import duties and other taxes, subject to the conditions laid down in Protocol Two to this Agreement on “Temporary Admission of Road Vehicles for Commercial Use”. Provided that no duty/tax credit shall be allowed in respect of goods supplied or services rendered to the vehicles of the other Contracting Party.
ARTICLE 32:
LEVIES AND CHARGES
1. Each Contracting Party may levy charges, generally applicable for all traffic in the territories of the Contracting Parties, including fees for weighment, scanning and sealing by customs officials; toll for the use of roads, bridges, tunnels and parking, or those commensurate with the administrative expenses which result from traffic in transit, or with the costs of services rendered.
2. All charges imposed on traffic in transit shall be reasonable and applied in a non-discriminatory manner.
ARTICLE 33:
NATIONAL TREATMENT
The Contracting Parties agree that:
a. in the National Legislations, rules and procedures affecting transit traffic treatment applied to the transporters from the other Contracting Party shall be no less favourable than applied to their own like services and service providers;
b. any charges, expenses or financial obligations incurred with regard to the means of transport and labour used for transit operations, administrative expenses entailed, or actual cost of services rendered, shall be calculated on the same basis as those for similar domestic transport operators.
SECTION X
AFGHANISTAN PAKISTAN
TRANSIT TRADE COORDINATION AUTHORITY
ARTICLE 34:
ESTABLISHMENT OF AFGHANISTAN PAKISTAN TRANSIT TRADE COORDINATION AUTHORITY
1. Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Coordination Authority (APTTCA) shall be established for monitoring, facilitating, and effective implementation of this Agreement.
2. The Authority shall be co-chaired by the Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industries, Government of Afghanistan and Secretary Commerce, Government of Pakistan.
3. The Authority shall consist of an equal number of representatives from:
a. the stakeholders ministries or similar agencies of Contracting Parties
b. private sector including Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industry, freight forwarders, and road transporters
c. Co-chairs may co-opt any other or invite anyone as special invitee as and when required.
4. The Authority shall frame its own rules of business.
ARTICLE 35:
TERMS OF REFERENCE OF APTTCA
1. The Authority shall deal with all matters related to transit trade and transport in the context of APTTA, and in particular will undertake the following tasks:
a. monitor effective implementation of this Agreement;
b. ensure uniform interpretation and application of this Agreement by both Parties;
c. Formulate measures to address/ curb un-authorized trade.
d. Monitor implementation and effectiveness of measures adopted to curb un-authorized trade;
e. resolve disputes that may arise regarding the interpretation or implementation of APTTA
f. authorize studies on issues related to transit trade;
g. consider any other matter for smooth operation of this Agreement.
2. The Authority shall submit reports of its meetings to the Pak – Afghan Joint Economic Commission.
ARTICLE 36:
MEETINGS
1. The Authority shall meet once every six months alternately in the territory of each of the Contracting Parties.
2. At the request of a Contracting Party, the Authority_may hold extraordinary meetings.
3. Each Contracting Party shall bear the cost for the participation of its delegation at regular and extraordinary meetings of the Authority.
ARTICLE 37:
DECISIONS BY THE AUTHORITY.
Decisions by the Authority shall be taken by consensus of both parties. ARTICLE 38: SECRETARIAT
The Ministries of Commerce of the respective Contracting Parties shall provide secretarial services in their respective countries.
SECTION XI
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT MECHANISM
ARTICLE 39:
SCOPE AND COVERAGE
1. Unless otherwise provided for in this Agreement, the provisions of this Section shall apply to the settlement of disputes between the Parties concerning the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement.
2. The rules, procedures and time frames set out in this Section may be waived, varied or modified by mutual agreement.
3. Arbitral tribunals appointed under this Section shall interpret and apply the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with customary rules of interpretation of public international law.
ARTICLE 40:
COOPERATION
The Parties through APTTCA shall at all times endeavour to agree on the interpretation and implementation of this Agreement through cooperation to arrive at a mutually satisfactory resolution of any matter that might affect its operation.
ARTICLE 41:
CONSULTATIONS
1. A Party may request consultations with the other Party with respect to any matter affecting the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement which cannot be resolved by the APTTCA. A Party may make the request to the other Party if the Party considers that:
2. If a Party requests consultations with regard to a matter, the other Party shall reply promptly to the request for consultations.
3. Any request for consultations shall be submitted in writing and shall give the reasons for the request, including identification of the measures at issue and an indication of the factual and legal basis of the complaint. Each Party shall also:
a. provide sufficient information to enable a full examination of how the measure might affect the operation of this Agreement; and
b. treat as confidential any information exchanged in the consultations which the other Party has designated as confidential.
4. The Party to which the request is made pursuant to this Article shall reply to the request within 10 days after the date of receipt of the request and shall enter into consultations within 30 days after the date of receipt of the request, with a view to reaching a mutually satisfactory solution.
ARTICLE 42:
ESTABLISHMENT OF ARBITRAL TRIBUNALS
1. The Party which made the request for consultations in accordance with Article 41 may make a written request to the other Party to establish an arbitral tribunal under this Article provided:
a. the Party to which the request is made does not reply to the request within 10 days after its receipt, or does not enter into such consultations within 30 days after the date the receipt of the request under Article 41; or
b. such consultations fail to resolve the dispute within 60 days after the date of receipt of the request for consultations.
2. The request to establish an arbitral tribunal shall include an identification of the measures at issue and an indication of the factual and legal basis of the complaint.
ARTICLE 43:
COMPOSITION OF ARBITRAL TRIBUNALS
1. Each Party shall, within 30 days after the date of receipt of the request for the establishment of an arbitral tribunal, appoint one arbitrator who may be a national of its country and propose up to three candidates to serve as the third arbitrator who shall be the Chair of the arbitral tribunal. The third arbitrator shall not be a national of the country of either Party, nor have his or her usual place of residence in the country of either Party, nor be employed by either Party, nor have dealt with the dispute in any capacity.
2. Both Parties shall agree on and appoint the third arbitrator within 45 days after the date of receipt of the request for the establishment of an arbitral tribunal. If the Parties fail to agree on the third arbitrator the parties shall request the two arbitrators appointed pursuant to Paragraph 1 of this Article to appoint the third arbitrator. If the two arbitrators fail to appoint the third arbitrator within 10 days, the parties shall consult each other in order to jointly appoint the third arbitrator within a further period of 30 days. If the two parties do not agree on the appointment of the third arbitrator two names of non-national and non-residents shall be proposed by each sides. The third arbitrator shall be selected by drawing lots from the four proposed names.
3. If an arbitrator or the Chair appointed under this Article resigns or becomes unable to act, a successor arbitrator or Chair shall be appointed in the same manner as prescribed for the appointment of the original arbitrator or Chair, and the successor shall have all the powers and duties of the original arbitrator.
4. The date of establishment of an arbitral tribunal shall be the date on which the third arbitrator is appointed.
ARTICLE 44:
FUNCTIONS OF ARBITRAL TRIBUNALS
1. The function of an arbitral tribunal is to make an objective assessment of the dispute before it, including an examination of the facts of the case and the applicability of, and conformity with this Agreement and make an Award.
2. The arbitral tribunal shall, in consultation with the Parties and apart from the matters set out in Article 41 regulate its own procedures in relation to the rights of Parties to be heard and its deliberations.
ARTICLE 45:
PROCEEDINGS OF ARBITRAL TRIBUNALS
The arbitral tribunal shall determine its own rules of procedures keeping in view WTO’ Understanding on Rules and Procedures governing the Settlement of Disputes.
ARTICLE 46:
SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION OF PROCEEDINGS
1. The Parties may agree to terminate the proceedings before an arbitral tribunal established under this Agreement at any time by jointly notifying the Chair of the arbitral tribunal to this effect.
2. Before the arbitral tribunal makes its decision, it may at any stage of the proceedings propose to the Parties that the dispute be settled amicably.
ARTICLE 47:
IMPLEMENTATION
1. On receipt of the award of the arbitral tribunal, the Parties shall resolve the dispute accordingly, the award being final.
2. The arbitral tribunal shall provide its report to the Parties within 30 days after the date of the referral of the matter to it. When the arbitral tribunal considers that it cannot provide its report within this timeframe, it shall inform the Parties in writing of the reasons for the delay and shall submit its report within 45 days after the date of referral of the matter to it.
ARTICLE 48:
EXPENSES
Each Party shall bear the costs of its appointed arbitrator and its own expenses and legal costs. The costs of the Chair of the arbitral tribunal and other expenses associated with the conduct of its proceedings shall be borne in equal parts by both Parties.
ARTICLE 49:
FOCAL POINTS AND SERVICE OF DOCUMENTS
Both parties shall designate a focal point for this section. Any request, acknowledgement, written submission or other document relating to the dispute settlement procedures in this section shall be delivered to the relevant Party through its designated focal point.
SECTION XII
FINAL CLAUSES
ARTICLE 50:
AMENDMENTS
This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the contracting parties. Such amendment shall be approved by the parties in accordance with their respective legal and constitutional procedures and enter into force on agreed date.
ARTICLE 51:
EFFECTIVENESS OF RELEVANT TREATIES
None of the provisions stipulated in this Agreement shall affect the rights and obligations of a Contracting Party arising from existing international treaties and conventions to which it is a Contracting Party.
ARTICLE 52:
NON-APPLICATION OF APTTA PROVISIONS ON VEHICLES OF THIRD COUNTRY
The provisions under this Agreement shall not be extended to road transport vehicles registered in a third country that use the roads of one Contracting Party or which are involved in the transportation of goods of one Contracting Party into the territory of the other Contracting Party, unless the third country has concluded a road transport agreement with both Contracting Parties.
ARTICLE 53:
GENERAL EXCLUSIONS
The contracting parties agree to ensure that no measure taken- under the agreement could risk harming or destroying (i) public morals: (ii) human, animal and plant life; (iii) national treasures; (iv) security of its own territory; and (v) any other interests as mutually agreed upon.
SECTION XIII
ENTRY INTO FORCE
ARTICLE 54:
RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT
1. This Agreement, future amendments and all its Annexes and Protocols are subject to simultaneous ratification by the Governments of both Contracting Parties, and the Instruments of Ratification or Acceptance shall be exchanged at Kabul and Islamabad. 2. This Agreement shall enter into force on the thirty first day after the date of receipt of the instruments of ratification.
3. This Agreement shall remain in force for five years from the date it comes into force.
4. This Agreement shall be automatically renewed for a further period of five years thereafter, subject to such modification as may be agreed upon, unless terminated by either Contracting Party in accordance with article 56 below.
5. From the date of its entry into force, this Agreement shall supersede the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA, 1965) and all its Annexes.
ARTICLE 55:
SUSPENSION OF THE AGREEMENT
1. The Contracting Parties agree to implement the provisions of this Agreement in the spirit of mutual benefit and cooperation.
2. Either Contracting Party may temporarily suspend the application of the Agreement, only in case of force majeure or emergencies affecting public health, public order and national security.
3. The Contracting Party shall inform the other Contracting Party before such suspension, which shall end as soon as the situation returns to normal.
ARTICLE 56:
DENUNCIATION OF THE AGREEMENT
1. This Agreement may be denounced by either Contracting Party on the basis of valid justifications thereto, after one year from the date of its entry into force, by means of written notification addressed to the other Contracting Party.
2. The denunciation shall take effect six months after its notification.
ARTICLE 57:
PROTOCOLS
1. The Protocols referred to in this Agreement are an integral part of the Agreement.
2. After signing the agreement and its protocols, if additional amendments are required to the agreement and existing protocols or if additional protocols are needed, the negotiation of the same will not affect the enforcement and implementation of the Agreement with its Protocols in its current form.
3. The Contracting Parties may adopt additional protocols to this Agreement to be prepared through APTTCA.
ARTICLE 58:
AUTHENTIC TEXT
The present Agreement is submitted for signature in two originals, in English and Dari languages. In case of dispute, the English version shall prevail.