KABUL, Afghanistan– Development work on one of Afghanistan’s major trade points is underway at the Weesh¬Chaman border crossing at Spin Boldak, Kandahar province. in southern Afghanistan.
The Weesh-Charman crossing point is one of three main crossings on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and any improvements in border crossing facilities are integral to facilitating trade.
Truck parking facilities have been improved, and some initial measures to enhance movement have been introduced. Mentors for the Afghan Customs officials have been established at the crossing point to help streamline the collection of revenue.
Other planned developments, which are expected to cost around $6.9 million, will facilitate better traffic flow through the border crossing point and provide metal roads in the area of the Chaman Gate.
The border crossing expansion will see the relocation of a school and other infrastructure, all of which have been agreed and approved by the local government and population.
An Automatic System for Customs, to be developed by the United Nations and funded by the World Bank, will simplify and automate customs processes therefore helping to reduce corruption by ensuring that revenue raised goes to the government to reinvest.
In addition to a significant number of civilian trucks, over 1,500 ISAF vehicles a week enter Afghanistan through the Weesh-Chaman border crossing. Improvements to the checkpoint will improve security and allow better control of traffic flow, thereby increasing the potential for greater revenue raised by the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
The Weesh-Chaman crossing is one of 14 official crossings along Afghanistan’s 5529 kilometre border. It’s estimated that in 2008/09, over 30 percent of GIRoA’s revenue was generated through customs, including from the border crossing points.
Any improvements in collecting customs revenue and reduction in the corrupt activities during the transfer of that money, is critical to the country’s development.
Improvements on the Weesh-Chaman crossing are expected to continue until the end of the year.