To obtain TADs, vehicle owners must submit their vehicle’s registration papers, passport, identification card, and a $100 fee
By Mehrab Shah Afridi
LANDI KOTAL: The enforcement of the Temporary Admission Document (TAD) policy at the Torkham border has led to significant disruptions in cross-border trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan. As of today, freight vehicles without the required TADs are being denied entry, resulting in long queues on both sides of the border and causing considerable distress among transporters.
The TAD policy, which started its enforcement today, mandates that vehicles involved in export and import activities must possess Temporary Admission Documentation. The new regulation follows bilateral trade negotiations held in March, during which Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed that vehicles lacking visas and travel documents would need TADs to engage in cross-border trade. The policy was introduced in May, with a compliance deadline of August 1st.
After this date, vehicles failing to present the necessary documents are not permitted to cross the border. To obtain TADs, vehicle owners must submit their vehicle’s registration papers, passport, identification card, and a $100 fee. Government sources indicate that the policy was temporarily relaxed for three months, allowing vehicles to cross without TADs. However, enforcement of the policy began on August 1st, and vehicles lacking TADs are now being barred from crossing.
Traders and transporters have called on authorities to reconsider the policy and allow vehicles without TADs to pass the border. They have expressed concerns about the growing lines of freight vehicles and the adverse impact on their operations. The affected parties have urged both Pakistani and Afghan authorities to ease the policy and provide relief to the stranded vehicles to facilitate the resumption of cross-border trade activities.
