Torkham border crossing reopens after 10-day closure

Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan was reopened for trade after a 10-day closure, as announced by authorities on Tuesday. Officials reported that Afghanistan’s consular general in Peshawar engaged in discussions with Pakistani authorities and the issue of opening the Torkham Border for unlicensed drivers was conditionally resolved. The first truck carrying goods from Afghanistan has already crossed into Pakistan, the border authorities said. As part of the new agreement, Afghan drivers now have a deadline of 1st March to ensure that their documents are in complete order as after 1st April drivers without the necessary documentation will be denied entry from Afghanistan into Pakistan. The border sources said the federal government had mandated cargo vehicles to have complete documentation before entering Pakistan. Read also: Pak-Afghan border at Torkham set to reopen However, when this decision was set to be enforced on January 13, the Afghan side closed the border. Reports also indicated that despite having complete documentation, several Pakistanis were stranded in Afghanistan. The closure of trade routes had resulted in thousands of vehicles being stranded, carrying items such as vegetables, onions, and fruits from Iran and Central Asia, as well as coals. During the closure, Pakistan's exports to Afghanistan remained at zero, a customs official told The Express Tribune. The closure persisted for ten days, impacting trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, causing a significant daily loss estimated at Rs680 million for both sides.

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/l70bOsy