Pakistan allows two-way trade with Afghanistan

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The government of Pakistan has allowed two-way bilateral and transit trade with Afghanistan, the Khyber Chamber of Commerce & Industry announced in a communication issued on May 15. 

It said that a border flag meeting was held on May 15 to discuss problems and remedial steps at Torkham Border on bilateral as well as Afghan transit trade as a result of which thousands of trucks got stuck up on both sides for slow pace of customs clearance. 

The meeting, after a number of deliberations, proved successful and took various initiatives for the resumption of trade on Afghanistan border. 

It was decided that the Torkham border will remain open for 24 hours on six days a week (except Saturday) and unlimited number of trucks will be allowed per day while ensuring proper SOPs and guidelines for both Afghan bilateral trade and Afghan transit trade. 

It was also decided that the Chaman border will remain open for six days, a week (except Saturday) for specified timings (as already notified) and unlimited number of trucks will be allowed per day while ensuring proper SOPs and guidelines for both Afghan bilateral trade and Afghan transit trade. 

Saturdays will be reserved for pedestrian move only as per procedure already in vogue. The Standard Quarantine Protocols/SOPs, as applicable for air passenger, will be implemented for pedestrians as well. 

According to the statement of the Khyber Chamber of Commerce, in order to restore trade activities and to ease restriction imposed on Afghan borders following Coronavirus outbreak, the senior leadership of Khyber Chamber led by Col (rtd) Muhammad Sadiq Afridi, Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi, Shahid Shanwari and Jabar Khan held a number of discussion for the last many days that were finally bore fruits. 

Shahid Shanwari and members of the Khyber Chambers of Commerce Group expressed gratitude to the concerned officials for solving their genuine problems, the press released said.