KARACHI: Import of tyres through Appraisement South under Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) surged to Rs32.2 billion during the first ten months of the current fiscal year (July 2021-April-2022).
On the directives of Collector MCC Appraisement West Tahir Qureshi, Additional Collector Faisal Bukhari assigned Principal Appraiser Hamood Ur Rehman to conduct a research audit of imports of tyres under ATT. The data identified massive surge in tyre imports under ATT since January 2022. It may be mentioned here that newly formed government has imposed a ban on several luxury and non-essential goods.
An official criticized this massive quantum of Afghan Transit Trade (ATT), as transportation of these goods causing additional burden on country’s resources. Transportation of goods to Afghanistan use fuel worth millions of dollars. Since Pakistan meets most of its fuel demand through imports, this is an additional burden. Moreover, transportation to Afghanistan also consumes subsidies announced by the government to support local populace.
The official said it was no secret that goods imported under ATT are grossly mis-declared, smuggled back into Pakistan and replaced during transit.
The official also criticized the ban on import of cars/vehicles. Imported vehicles were banned, which is a bad decision because most of the vehicles being imported were hybrid, while locally produced cars are not hybrid. Import of hybrid vehicles could also reduce fuel bills.
Moreover, all the banned items were now being smuggled into the country and once certain goods start smuggling, these don’t switch back to legal imports.