The USAID’s four year project on improving trading facilities in Pakistan helped in increasing exports to Afghanistan and in finding new export markets.
According to available facts and figures, USAID has spent $20,323,820 on the Pakistan Trade Project June 2009-June 2013.
The main objective of the project is to improve Pakistan’s international and regional trade environment by supporting trade-friendly policies and increasing trade at the country’s borders.
During the project, the USAID helped establish five consultative forums on trade issues with key public and private sector stakeholders.
It introduced a customs insurance bond system to secure customs revenue against unauthorised trade, as part of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement 2010.
It also supported inclusion of best-practice risk management techniques in Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement to reduce the time in customs of low-risk cargo.
The trade project helped shorten Karachi port formalities for Afghanistan-Pakistan transit trade from 43 to 23 days.
It supported the computerisation of customs data exchange between Afghan and Pakistan customs.
Through facilities’ upgrades, it increased the volume of trucks crossing at the Chaman customs post on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in winter by 50 per cent. It helped create a new export market in Australia for Pakistani cobblestones.
The project supported the Pakistan Board of Investment in implementing investment treaty obligations.
The project seeks to stimulate growth and development by helping the Pakistani economy achieve its export potential. A main focus of the project is improving the country’s trade environment through stronger regulation, policies, systems, and capacity.
The project fosters the establishment of sustainable and competitive special economic zones and emphasises capacity-building activities that can help increase exports from industry, services, and agricultural enterprises.
The project funds new equipment to improve customs operations on the Pakistan border.
Its main activities include improvement of the trade environment by providing technical assistance to government agencies on improving regulations and policies.
It supported the government in implementation of international and regional transit and trade agreements, especially the Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement.
The project seeks to increase trade at Pakistan’s borders by providing small-scale infrastructure and training.
