TCS launches first TIR pilot to Central Asia
‘TIR’ (Transports Internationaux Routiers or International Road Transport) is an international transit system based on a UN Convention implemented at a global level in a Public-Private Partnership. The TIR System has been facilitating and securing trade and international road transport for over 60 years, by allowing customs-sealed vehicles and freight containers to transit countries without border checks.
The Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention) was drafted in 1975. It replaces the original Transport Internationaux Routier (TIR) Convention from 1959 and came into force on 20 March 1978.
Pakistan became a member of the TIR (International Road Transport) Convention in 2017 which has 77 contracting parties including China, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, and all Central Asian Republics (CARs). After becoming a member, Pakistan notified the following sea and land border points as TIR crossings:
Sust (Khunjerab) with China Torkham and Chaman with Afghanistan Taftan with Iran Gwadar and Karachi are two seaports
Trade with Central Asian countries under TIR agreement increasing pace: Custom officials
Pakistan Customs Amends TIR Rules to Make Cross-border Trade More Efficient, Cost-effective
In order to gain Pakistan share in international trade and to ensure quick supply of our produce to regional markets,Pakistan Customs (FBR) have amended the International Road Transport (TIR) Rules vide S.R.O. 31(1)2024 on 10.01.2024 to exploit the potential & enhance trade.1/2
– FBR (@FBRSpokesperson) January 11, 2024
THE TIR SYSTEM AND ITS BENEFITS
'Trade with Central Asian countries under TIR agreement increasing pace'
TORKHAM:
Bilateral trade with Central Asian countries under the Transport International Route (TIR) agreement is gradually increasing pace was said by Additional Collector Customs Muhammad Tayyab on Sunday.
In conversation with the media during a function at the Torkham border crossing, the customs official stated that in one year, more than 80 containers of goods have been imported and exported through the border.
He also claimed that with the completion of the Torkham Transit Terminal Project, which is currently under construction in line with international standards, the Torkham border crossing will become a hub of trade activities for the whole region.
“Rice, leather goods, sports goods, medicines and various kinds of machinery have been exported to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries,” he furthered.
After oil, more goods start arriving from Russia
Historic multimodal TIR shipment cleared
KARACHI:
Pakistan Customs, in collaboration with the National Logistics Corporation (NLC), has marked a historic achievement by clearing the inaugural shipment under the Multimodal International Road Transport (TIR) Convention. This move positions Pakistan as a potential key player in the regional transit hub. The operational success of the uni-modal TIR system under Pakistan Customs paved the way for NLC, working with the Directorate General Transit Trade Customs, to initiate the Multi-modal TIR transportation service for foreign traders, terminal operators at the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT), and the web-based computerised clearance system (WeBOC) team.
Sources reveal that Pakistan Customs, in timely coordination with the International Road Union (IRU) Geneva, prepared electronic pre-declarations through its WeBOC system in consultation with NLC and the Pakistan National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce (PNC-ICC). The formal opening ceremony at Qasim International Container Terminal witnessed the arrival of the first-ever multi-modal TIR consignment by sea from Nasha, China, destined for Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
During the event, Dr Farid Iqbal Qureshi, Member Customs Operations, highlighted that the TIR Convention would significantly boost regional exports and international transit trade for Pakistan. He emphasised that Pakistan Customs would now implement global procedures to enhance facilitation for regional and international trade.
First Pakistan exports to Russia by TIR cut transit time by up to 76%