ISLAMABAD: In a bid to resolve the issue of Iranian trucks stranded at the Iran-Pakistan border, the Ministry of Commerce will submit a fresh summary to the federal cabinet, seeking a waiver of the Import-Form (I-Form) requirement for trade with Iran and Afghanistan, and proposing a revised barter trade policy with Iran.
For the first time, the Senate Standing Committees on Commerce and Finance & Revenue held a joint session on Wednesday, highlighting mounting challenges in Pakistan’s foreign trade—particularly the malfunctioning barter trade mechanism with Iran, a key neighbor.
Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Chairman of the Finance Committee, emphasized that the new cabinet summary must ensure equal treatment for Iranian imports under both the barter arrangement and the Import Policy Order.
The session noted reports about hundreds of Iranian trucks being held up at the border, only to be surprised by the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) Acting Member Customs, who claimed no formal record or clearance request had been received for such vehicles. “Nobody has approached Pakistani customs for clearance of any 1,200 Iranian trucks,” the official stated, leaving the committee visibly stunned.
Officials from the Commerce Ministry shared that while the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had approved the draft policy summary, the FBR had yet to submit its input. However, FBR later clarified that I-Form exemptions fall under the jurisdiction of the Commerce Ministry and SBP, urging the two institutions to resolve the matter mutually.
In response to the disjointed coordination, the Senate committee directed a complete redrafting of the barter trade policy, ensuring a fair and transparent mechanism for both imports and exports between Pakistan and Iran. The revised policy will be vetted by the joint committee before submission to the Federal Cabinet, with a 10-day deadline set for a follow-up report.
The meeting, co-chaired by Senators Saleem Mandviwalla and Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan, also expressed strong disapproval over the absence of the Secretary and Minister for Commerce, calling it a blatant disregard for parliamentary responsibility.
Senator Mandviwalla further warned that the committee would move a privilege motion against the Collector of Customs Quetta, who failed to appear despite a direct summons.
The central focus of the meeting was the inefficiency and confusion surrounding the current barter trade policy, which lawmakers described as complex, irrational, and counterproductive, severely hampering cross-border trade flows.
