Govt Mulls Opening Badini Border for Trade with Afghanistan

The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, chaired by Senator Anusha Rahman, was briefed on efforts to open the Badini border point for trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Committee also discussed the status of barter trade arrangements with Iran, Afghanistan, and Russia.

Officials from the Ministry of Commerce informed the committee that a formal letter has been sent to the Afghan government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to activate the Badini border crossing.

The move aims to facilitate bilateral trade and ease congestion at the Torkham and Chaman crossings, which are currently under heavy commercial pressure.

The President of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Muhammad Ayub, said that both sides already have facilities in place for trade operations and that the road infrastructure will continue to improve.

He stressed that reopening the Badini border point is crucial to resuming imports and exports with Afghanistan, particularly for the export of Pakistani rice.

However, he complained that the Commerce Ministry and Customs authorities have yet to grant formal permission for exports through the crossing.

In response, the Secretary of Commerce clarified that no official order has been issued to block exports and requested the Chamber to share a copy of the ministry’s purported letter for review.

Meanwhile, the Commerce Ministry briefed the committee on the progress of barter trade agreements with Iran, Afghanistan, and Russia.

Officials said the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved the new Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) for barter trade, which now includes the names of the three countries instead of itemized product lists.

The Cabinet Division has yet to return the SRO, as it awaits final approval from the Federal Cabinet. Once endorsed, the official notification will be issued, officials added.

According to the ministry, Pakistani firms and consortiums will be allowed to engage in barter trade with companies in the three countries, subject to clearance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Customs Department have been granted authority to oversee and facilitate barter transactions.

The new framework allows traders up to 120 days to settle trade transactions, which can be done in phases. Customs authorities will also conduct quarterly reviews of traded goods to ensure compliance.

Senator Anusha Rahman stressed that the committee had already directed the government to simplify the barter trade process and make it more business-friendly.

“Customs officials want to retain all powers, but our goal is to make trade easier, not harder,” she remarked.

Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul noted that the phased settlement clause has been added for traders’ convenience, allowing flexibility in balancing trade over time.

At the conclusion of the meeting, President Ayub thanked the committee on behalf of the business community of Balochistan and Quetta Chamber, acknowledging their support in promoting regional trade and reopening border points critical to local commerce.

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The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, chaired by Senator Anusha Rahman, was briefed on efforts to open the Badini border… Read More

The post Govt Mulls Opening Badini Border for Trade with Afghanistan appeared first on ProPakistani.