| Afghanistan:
An overview
Afghanistan is a rugged, mountainous and landlocked country,
having arid and extreme weather conditions. It is bounded
on the north by Turkmenistan (744km), Uzbekistan (137km)
and Tajikistan (1206km), on the northeast by China(96km),
on the south and east by Pakistan (2412km) and on the west
by Iran (925km). The ring road is the main communication
artery, joining all the economic centre/city of the country.
Afghanistan Logistics
After the US led invasion, the economic activities are gaining
the momentum. Initially imputes was on logistic activities
where the imports of military hardware, support equipment
and spares to the war zone become a major reason for development
of transport sectors and related economic activities. It
continues to be the major driver of the import and transportation
business; however, the development programs are also contributing
towards generating trade and industrial activities. Initially
we foresee growth in construction sector, which is likely
to follow suit, in agro-based industrial units.
With Iran having the political issues with international
community, the shortest and comparatively more secure ground
lines of communication are through Pakistan. Secondly, major
economic center/cities are located close to Pakistan. Two
cross border points Chamman in the south-west of Pakistan
and Torkham in the North-West provide the natural accesses
to the main cities and economic centers of Afghanistan.
Construction of ring road has opened up otherwise inaccessible
economic center in the north and Northeast as well.
With new provision of Afghan Transit Trade Agreement, the
accessibility to CIS via Pakistan is a new avenue that offers
opportunity for the transport and freight forwarding industry
of Pakistan.
Afghan Logistics Division in Seagold
(Private) Limited
To capitalize on the opportunity presented by these developments,
it was in order to give rightful imputes to the Afghan haulage
and logistics operations, and a separate Afghan Logistic
Division was created at Seagold. The philosophy behind this
move is to harness the available expertise and provide flexible
and customized solution to the complex and wide-ranging
demands in this niche market. The assortment service ranges
we have developed are:-
1) Land transportation from Karachi to all places in Afghanistan,
especially to Kabul, Kandhar and Jalalabad.
2)Arranging Transit Permit and NOCs from GOP.
3) Custom clearance at POD and Cross Border Points.
4) Satellite tracking facility on request
5) Under escort movement of sensitive cargo.
6) Handling of Special Project.
7) Specialised in handling of all type of special equipment.
Categories of Inbound Transit Cargo
Due to the land-lock nature, all the commodities to Afghanistan
are transported through land transport from Karachi/Qasim
port including electronics goods, edible commodities, construction
materials, heavy equipment/machinery, and military cargo.
For the purpose of custom clearance and land-transport in-bound
cargo is mainly divided in to three categories, which are:-
A. Commercial Cargo
B. Non-Commercial for ISAF, GoIRA, and NGOs
C. US Military & non Military Cargo
A. Commercial Cargo
All type of commercial import is allowed for Afghanistan
through Pakistan except cigarettes and auto parts. Transportation
of the commercial cargo is only allowed by Pakistan Railway
or though NLC (National Logistic Cell, a transportation
company, owned by Government of Pakistan) up to Peshawar
or Chaman, the borders cities of Pakistan. The consignments
are unloaded at Karachi and Bin Qasim Ports and Pakistan
Customs formalities, for in transit goods, are completed
before loading into Railway wagons or trucks for final destination
in Afghanistan. Transportation through NLC is about 50 to
60% more expensive than Pakistan Railway, but much speedier
as well.
Documents Required:
a) Original B/L
b) Invoice
c) Packing List
d) Jawaznama (Afghan Government Registration certificate
for Afghan Importers)
Note:-
Consignee is responsible for the Afghan custom clearance.
B. Non Commercial Cargo
Non commercial cargo could be dispatched to final destination
by NLC trucks.
Documents Required:
a) Original B/L
b) Invoice
c) Packing List
d) Registration Certificate of N.G.O
e) Letter from the respective embassy / consulate in Karachi
to:-
o Collector of Customs Karachi Port / Port Qasim for exemption
of Pakistan Government taxes
o Excise & Taxation Department Karachi Port / Port Qasim
o OC Dry Port NLC Karachi and also email on dryport.karachi@nlc.com.pk.
Notes:-
1. The port and shipping line charges are not exempted.
2. All consignees who claim Afghan Government tax exemption
must produce Afghan Ministry’s letter for exemption
of taxes for each consignment.
Non- Commercial (UN Cargo)
Documents Required
1 ) Original B/L
2 ) Invoice
3 ) Packing List
4 ) Letters on UN letter head to:-
o Collector of Customs Karachi Port / Port Qasim for exemption
of Pakistan Government taxes
o Excise & Taxation Department Karachi Port / Port Qasim
o OC Dry Port NLC Karachi and also email on dryport.karachi@nlc.com.pk.
Kindly note that the port and shipping line charges are
not exempted.
Notes:-
1. The port and shipping line charges are not exempted.
2. All consignees who claim Afghan Government tax exemption
must produce Afghan Ministry’s letter for exemption
of taxes for each consignment.
C. US Military Cargo
U.S. Army cargo could be moved by NLC or private trucks.
Documents Required
1) Original B/L
2) Invoice
3) Packing List
4) U.S. Consulate General Office files the papers in customs,
NLC, which usually takes about 3 to 4 working days.
Upon receiving the documents from the U.S. Consulate we
arrange for transportation and complete other formalities
at Karachi.
Notes:-
1. The port and shipping line charges are not exempted.
2. All consignees who claim Afghan Government tax exemption
must produce Afghan Ministry’s letter for exemption
of taxes for each consignment.
Transit Time:
3. Transit custom clearance takes 4-5 working days in Karachi,
Pakistan, subject to all documentation in order.
4. Transport from KHI to PAK-AFG border about 5 days to
Torkham and 4 days to Chaman.
5. Transportation from the border to destination 3 days
to KBL and 2-3 days to KDH.
6. Estimated Transit Time for Karachi to Kabul is 14 days.
7. Estimated Transit Time for Karachi to Kandahar is 9-11
days.
8. Return the empty ctr from KDH to Karachi is 8 days
9. Return the empty ctr from KBL to Karachi is 8 days
10. Cargo booked through the railway takes about 30-35 days,
depending upon the availability of the rolling stock. Normally
commercial cargo is booked on Railway or NLC designated
transport.
Afghan Transit Routes
Route 1:- Karachi -Peshawar-Torkham border-Kabul
1. Total distance: 2010km (approx)
2. Route: Karachi-Hyderabad-Sukkur-Bhawalpure-Rawalpindi-Peshawar-Khyber
pass-Torkham border-Jalalabad-Kabul.
Route
2:- Karachi to Quetta- Chaman border-Kandahar
Total distance:913km (approx)
1. Route: Karachi-Hab Chauki-Uthal-Bela-Khuzdar-Kalat-Quetta-Bostan-Chaman-Spin
Boldak-Kandahar.
For
your further queries and quotations:
pakafghan@seagoldlimited.com
|
Home
