Islamabad/Peshawar (TDI): In a bid to strengthen regional connectivity, Pakistan’s project of Integrated Transit Trade Management Systems at Chaman and Torkham are nearing completion.
More than 97 percent work on the key projects for regional connectivity at Torkham and Chaman has been completed to enhance the country’s transit trade capacity, state-run broadcaster, Radio Pakistan, reported on Wednesday.
The report further said that with the completion of this project under the National Logistics Corporation, Pakistan will join the ranks of developed countries having modern, state-of-the-art border terminals.
The crucial border terminals with global standard facilities will serve as facilitators for trade among regional countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asian Countries and the region beyond Central Asia significantly increasing volume of the trade in the region.
Regional Connectivity and Economies
Equipped with modern facilities, these terminals will expedite the delivery of trade goods and enhance economic activities among the regional countries. After completion, they will be able to handle 2400 trucks per day which is five times more than the current capacity, according to the report.
Parking capacity for 400 trucks and 100 light vehicles will be available in the import and export yards of these terminals.
The terminals will also have a modern administration center, a business center for banks, weighing machines, explosives and drug detectors, scanners and biometric data collection systems.
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The transformation of these border terminals will strengthen regional connectivity, making Pakistan a hub of regional trade.
The Federal Board of Revenue is supervising this entire project being executed with the financial support of Asian Development Bank.
Pakistan has stressed enhancing regional connectivity on various international forums including SCO and ECO.
Islamabad has signed transit agreements with a number of countries, including Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
Pakistan stands for connectivity beyond Central Asia region as it has trade agreements with various countries in different regions, including Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, and the European Union.
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Under CPEC Pakistan and China have also developed the Gwadar port complex providing port, warehouses, and industrial facilities for foreign countries, it also provides opportunity to interconnect Central Asia, South Asia, and China for trade and businesses purposes.
