Pakistan’s unique geographic location places it right on the confluence of traditional trade routes. In February 2005, Government of Pakistan assigned NLC to set up border terminals to ensure effective border management for regional trade. The border terminals aim at facilitating trade through these trade routes.
Border Terminals act as hub of import/export activities where all relevant government departments like Customs, Immigration, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) discharge their respective responsibilities under overall management of NLC as border terminal operator. The border terminals indeed serve as regional trade and immigration facilitation centers.
Development of border terminals network is imperative to materialize the objective of promoting trade and economic growth. To achieve this, NLC has set-up border terminals at Wagha, Torkham, Jamrud, Chaman, Ghulam Khan Kaley, Kharlachi and Taftan. These terminals are playing a remarkable role in boosting regional trade.
NLC plans to set up new border terminals at Angoor Adda, Badini, and Tsatsobi with Afghanistan while Gabd and Mand with Iran which will help in expansion of bilateral trade with regional countries. The border trade management at Chaman and Torkham are being upgraded under Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITTMS) through Asian Development Bank. Torkham Border Terminal is the only facility of its kind which operates 24/7. Efforts are in hand to also operationalize Chaman Border Terminal round the clock.
