‘Irrational’ Customs practices hurting trade with Iran

A joint committee of the Senate has declared Pakistan Customs a key impediment to cross-border trade due to its use of “irrational” practices. The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce and the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue convened their first-ever joint meeting to focus on the barter trade mechanism with Iran, a critical neighbouring trade partner. Chaired jointly by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and Senator Anusha Rahman, the meeting brought together key members of both committees. However, the committees expressed strong displeasure at the absence of the Secretary of Commerce Jawad Paul and the Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal, terming it a serious disregard for parliamentary oversight on such a pressing national issue.