ISLAMABAD: In a significant move aimed at boosting cross-border trade between China and Pakistan, an international road transport route has been inaugurated, connecting China’s Kashgar city to Islamabad. The inauguration marked the departure of the first shipment convoy comprising five trucks from Kashgar to Islamabad.
This inaugural convoy signifies the launch of Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) operations between China and Pakistan. The TIR system represents a firmly established international customs transit mechanism known for its efficient, secure, and cost-effective procedures.
Within the TIR system, cargo remains sealed throughout its journey, which effectively reduces potential delays at border crossings. It also reduces the risk of tampering or interference with the cargo. Moreover, the unified international guarantee provided by TIR can help decrease additional customs expenses associated with cross-border transportation.
The Kashgar-Islamabad TIR route is a product of a collaborative initiative involving Kashgar Customs, the Kashgar Municipal People’s Government, and led by CEVA Logistics with backing from the Shenzhen Cross-Border E-commerce Association.
Kashgar is the first Chinese city to implement TIR transport services after China ratified the UN TIR Convention in 2016. More than 66 countries use the TIR system, showcasing its extensive global reach. This makes it the international customs transit system with the broadest geographical coverage.
Like other customs transit procedures, the TIR system facilitates the movement of goods across international borders under customs control, exempting these goods from the payment of duties and taxes that would typically be due upon import or export. A key requirement of the TIR procedure is that the transportation of goods must involve road transport.
