Afghan Transit Trade Logistic Solutions
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The economy of Afghanistan has improved significantly since 2002 due to the infusion of multi-
billion US dollars in international assistance and investments, as well as remittances from expats. It
is also due to dramatic improvements in agricultural production and the end of a four-year drought in
most of the country.
Landlocked Afghanistan has almost no railways, but the Amu Darya (Oxus) River, which forms part
of Afghanistan's border with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, does have barge traffic. Rail
lines are limited to a short spur across the Amu Darya between Termez in Uzbekistan and Jeyretan
in Afghanistan, and another short spur between Kushka in Turkmenistan and Touragondi in
Afghanistan. The line from Termez crosses a combined road and rail bridge across the Amu Darya
which was built by the Soviets during their occupation of the country.
A landlocked country, Afghanistan is dependent upon transit countries for its foreign trade. Pakistan
represents its main access to a seaport. At the same time, due to its strategic geographic position,
Afghanistan has the potential for becoming a land linked country providing Pakistan with direct
routes to the Central Asia Region (CAR) as well as being a regional hub for trade and transit
between Central and South Asia, the Middle East and China, a role which the country has played
historically. There is considerable trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan, totaling well over US $1
billion, but it is very asymmetric, consisting for the most part by imports from Pakistan, as compared
to very little formal Afghan exports.
In the past few years both Afghanistan and Pakistan have invested largely in road, ports and border
port infrastructure improvement. In Pakistan, the National Trade Corridor Improvement Program,
initiated in 2005 is aimed at enhancing regional connectivity through trade links, and energy and
transport corridors with China, Central Asian Republics, Afghanistan and Iran. In Afghanistan, the
rehabilitation/reconstruction of the ring road, circular road linking Kabul to Kandahar, Herat, Mazzar
Sharif, Kunduz Kabul is under completion. Similarly, the connections to neighbouring countries from
the ring road are progressing well.
Service, we Provide:
Our dedicated and specialized ATT department is offering complete documentation, logistic and
shipping solutions to commercial and non commercial cargo movement. We are focusing to
facilitate the ISAF, USAID and other agencies, forces and NGOs working in Afghanistan for their
needs of food, medicines, machinery and other cargo supplies through Pakistani ports and
territories.
There are two major categories of Afghan Transit Trade Cargoes;
Commercial Cargo :
We are offering the service for these three categories to Afghan businesses as below;
Problems in ATT;
Notwithstanding these significant improvements, numerous problems remain, which hinder the
actual conduct of trade. Among the most serious obstacles to the movements of goods along the
Pakistan Afghanistan corridors, the following can be listed:
billion US dollars in international assistance and investments, as well as remittances from expats. It
is also due to dramatic improvements in agricultural production and the end of a four-year drought in
most of the country.
Landlocked Afghanistan has almost no railways, but the Amu Darya (Oxus) River, which forms part
of Afghanistan's border with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, does have barge traffic. Rail
lines are limited to a short spur across the Amu Darya between Termez in Uzbekistan and Jeyretan
in Afghanistan, and another short spur between Kushka in Turkmenistan and Touragondi in
Afghanistan. The line from Termez crosses a combined road and rail bridge across the Amu Darya
which was built by the Soviets during their occupation of the country.
A landlocked country, Afghanistan is dependent upon transit countries for its foreign trade. Pakistan
represents its main access to a seaport. At the same time, due to its strategic geographic position,
Afghanistan has the potential for becoming a land linked country providing Pakistan with direct
routes to the Central Asia Region (CAR) as well as being a regional hub for trade and transit
between Central and South Asia, the Middle East and China, a role which the country has played
historically. There is considerable trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan, totaling well over US $1
billion, but it is very asymmetric, consisting for the most part by imports from Pakistan, as compared
to very little formal Afghan exports.
In the past few years both Afghanistan and Pakistan have invested largely in road, ports and border
port infrastructure improvement. In Pakistan, the National Trade Corridor Improvement Program,
initiated in 2005 is aimed at enhancing regional connectivity through trade links, and energy and
transport corridors with China, Central Asian Republics, Afghanistan and Iran. In Afghanistan, the
rehabilitation/reconstruction of the ring road, circular road linking Kabul to Kandahar, Herat, Mazzar
Sharif, Kunduz Kabul is under completion. Similarly, the connections to neighbouring countries from
the ring road are progressing well.
Service, we Provide:
Our dedicated and specialized ATT department is offering complete documentation, logistic and
shipping solutions to commercial and non commercial cargo movement. We are focusing to
facilitate the ISAF, USAID and other agencies, forces and NGOs working in Afghanistan for their
needs of food, medicines, machinery and other cargo supplies through Pakistani ports and
territories.
There are two major categories of Afghan Transit Trade Cargoes;
- Commercial Cargo
- Non-Commercial Cargo / NGO's / ISAF
Commercial Cargo :
- Private Organizations
- Non-Govt. Organizations
- Commercial Importers
- U.S. Army
- NATO Forces
- U.N. Organizations
- Afghan Government
- Foreign Missions
- (Embassies + Consulates)
- NGO's
- ISAF
We are offering the service for these three categories to Afghan businesses as below;
- Transportation from sea / air Port(s) to Customer's place.
- Customs Clearance.
- Vehicle Import, Clearance & Transport
- Heavy, Oversize and Project Cargo Handling and Transport
- Dangerous/Hazardous Goods Management, Handling and Transport
- International Freight Forwarding
- Vessel Chartering and Bulk Break Handling
- Warehousing & Distribution
- Packing, Palletizing and Consolidations
- Intending and Trading
- Fiscal Consultancy & Refunds (Customs, Sales Tax & Income Tax)
- International Trade Research & Consultancy
- Pre-shipment Inspections
- Personal Effects Relocation
Problems in ATT;
Notwithstanding these significant improvements, numerous problems remain, which hinder the
actual conduct of trade. Among the most serious obstacles to the movements of goods along the
Pakistan Afghanistan corridors, the following can be listed:
- poorly designed and poorly managed official border port stations;
- long waiting times at the borders which also generates unofficial payment transactions;
- truck-to-truck transshipment at the border which increases handling costs, transit times and
the risk of cargo loss and damage; - no role for the Afghan truckers in external transit (at the exception of the Peshawar route) as
trucking is entirely provided by the transit countries; - similarly, restrictive practices which prevent foreign truckers from operating in Afghanistan;
- high-rates charged by trucking cartel;
- vehicle standards below international levels;
- Lack of formal financial and insurance systems