KARACHI:
Trade between Pakistan and Central Asian countries has come to a standstill owing to the closure of five border crossings adjacent to Afghanistan.
Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) President Junaid Ismail Makda said that border crossings at Chaman, Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Angoor Ada and Kharlachi had been closed. “In light of this situation, traders are not only suffering significant losses in terms of demurrage and detention charges, but they are also worried about the perishable goods on trucks”, which would rot if the issue was not resolved immediately.
Read Pakistan-Afghanistan trade reaches stalemate
“Current circumstances are impacting both transit and bilateral trade,” he stressed, adding that there was utter uncertainty as trade with Central Asian states had ceased because of the closure of key border crossing points.
“Such state of affairs poses a major challenge to Pakistan’s economic stability in addition to impeding the flow of goods and services.” The PAJCCI president demanded that the authorities concerned resolve the issue swiftly as the ongoing blockade was putting the trade ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan at risk.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2024.
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