KHYBER: The Torkham crossing was closed for the sixth day in a row on Wednesday, drawing criticism from business leaders and reporters.
It should be noted that the Torkham border was closed when admission of Pakistan-bound drivers was limited at the crossing on Saturday without a legitimate visa and passport, and Afghan officials blocked entry of Pakistani national transporters.
According to a customs official in Torkham, the national exchequer loses around 68.4 million rupees ($2.4 million) each day.
Scores of trucks laden with export fruits and vegetables (mango, tomato, banana, cucumber, etc.) spoiled at the border, causing the exporter a significant financial loss.
Muslim Khan, a banana exporter to Afghanistan, stated that in the off season, 70 to 80 grocery-laden vans are exported across the border.
He argued that they had suffered significant losses since the fruits and vegetables they transported spoiled in one or two days.
He proposed separating politics from trade and implementing steps to boost bilateral trade.
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Sadiq, an Afghan national who has been stranded at the border for the past five days, stated that the border crossing has forced him and hundreds of others to dwell under an open sky in the cold weather.
He argued that the absence of facilities in Pakistan’s embassy and councils in Afghanistan made it impossible for them to obtain a Pakistani visa in six months.
On the other hand, the business community was irritated by the lengthy border closure.
On the penultimate day, Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Jawad Kazmi, President of the Clearing Agent Association, Torkham Aimal Khan, chairman of the Transport Association, Torkham Azeemullah, together with traders.
They had a lengthy discussion about border closures and bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The participants, in a unanimous motion, demanded that the government immediately reopen the crossing and relax the visa process for drivers.
Meanwhile, a protest march was held in Torkham on Wednesday, attended by several customs clearing workers and drivers.
They marched from the export terminal to the NADRA gate, requesting that the Pakistani and Afghan governments resolve all issues via discussion and resume trade across the Torkham border.
