Strike of clearing agents continue on second day

Ahmad Nabi

LANDI KOTAL: Clearing process of export and import good was remained halt on Tuesday as strike of clearing agents association of Torkham against implementation of Web Based One Customs (WeBOC) was continued on second day.

Last day the association announced indefinite strike against it. The clearing agents association established a protest camp in Torkham and took out a protest demonstration in favor of their demands. The angry mob while carrying black flags and chanted slogans against implementation of the WeBOC system.

They also initiated set-in on the main road of Torkham, suspended all traffic. The office holders of the association set conditions including provision of full-fledged training facility to the clearing agents community as well as to the customs officials, availability of fast universal net, undisrupted supply of power and obtaining of WeBOC user ID etc. and said until meeting of their demands they were not ready resume their clearing activities in the custom house.

A session of dialog between the representatives of agents association, administration and customs officials was also at evening however it ended fruitless, administration official told. Because of the shutting of goods clearing process, parking lots were packed with long wheel drive loaded vehicles on both side of the border in addition with long queues of the trailers could be witnessed on road side as well.