QUETTA – A Joint Meeting of the Senate Standing Committees on Commerce and Finance & Revenue was convened today at the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) under the chairpersonship of Senator Anusha Rahman and Senator Saleem Mandviwala. The meeting was attended by local business representatives, officials from key government departments, and members of the Chaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), who brought urgent trade-related concerns to the fore.
The Chaman Chamber presented a detailed account of challenges currently paralyzing trade activities in the border region. Among the foremost issues was the inefficient implementation of the Barter Trade Mechanism under SRO 2023, which, rather than facilitating trade, has led to increased hardships due to lack of coordination between relevant authorities. The Chamber strongly highlighted the unavailability of functional scanners and other customs clearance facilities at the Chaman border, leading to unnecessary delays and procedural hurdles. It was further informed that only a limited number of trucks are being allowed entry, causing serious congestion and demurrage losses.
The limited capacity at the NLC Terminal emerged as a significant bottleneck, forcing hundreds of trucks to remain parked outside for days. Businessmen are compelled to pay exorbitant charges and penalties due to delays, while no proper shade, drinking water, toilets, or rest facilities are available for drivers and clearing agents. Another serious concern was the lack of electronic documentation systems and physical absence of Customs and NLC coordination, which hampers transparency and efficiency. The NLC booking counter, the Chamber pointed out, is also situated at an inaccessible location. Further, it was emphasized that the recently constructed Chaman Dry Port is still not operational, despite years of effort and investment. Additionally, no facilitation is being provided to traders or clearing agents, and constant changes in procedures without stakeholder consultation continue to affect trade flow.
Senator Anusha Rahman and Senator Saleem Mandviwala took strong notice of the issues and assured the business community that the government is fully committed to resolving these impediments and senate platforms remain available to play their role. Both chairs stated that they will further recommend to the govt relevant departments to follow up immediately and to conduct field visits to ensure factual oversight. The meeting concluded with consensus that a clear and coordinated roadmap is urgently required to promote border trade, ensure effective inter-departmental collaboration, and restore confidence among local traders and investors.
