Pakistan illegally halts our containers: Businessmen  

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Some businessmen in southern Kandahar province have complained that Pakistan illegally stopped their goods and it daily cost them $600,000 to one $1 million tax.

They said Afghan businessmen’s goods in 5,000 containers stuck in Pakistan from the past one and a half month.

Mohammad Shafiq Achakzai, head of the Chambers of Commerce in Spin Boldak district said, the issue had been discussed with Pakistani authorities but particle step had been taken for its resolution.

He said: “About 5,000 containers of commercial goods have been stopped since 45 days in Pakistan, the stoppage of commercial goods cost us financial loss about $600,000 and a million of demurrage for Afghan traders every day.”

Pakistani authorities doing this to for political pressure but it will not help because Afghan traders have alternative trade routes, Achakzai said.

However the problems of afghan traders in Chaman-Spin Boldak have increased with this move, on daily basis goods imported by Afghan businessmen had been stopped and delayed.

Another Businessman Ahmad Shah Khan said: “Most part of our commercial goods is fruits, our fruit is allowed to move when it gets spoiled, although the traders are in continuous contact with the commissar but the problems remain unsolved.”

Kandahar Chamber of Commerce officials said, they shared the issue of the stranded containers with high level Pakistani officials but no practical efforts have been made to address this issue.

Abdul Baqi Bina, deputy head of the Provincial Chmabber of Commerce, said the issue of stranded containers has been shared with Pakistani authorities through diplomatic channels, however Pakistani side promised to solve it, but so far no step had been taken to solve this problem.

Bina said: “The government authorities and traders shared the issue with Pakistani side but yield no result, the government and traders want to look for an alternative solution as well.”

Spin Boldiak District Chief Mullah Abdullah Bashir says, we would not give up to the pressures of Pakistan, if it is the eviction of refugees or it is the creation of problems for the traders.

“Pakistan wants to mount pressure on Afghans by evicting refugees or by creating problems for Afghan businessmen, with all these problems Pakistan will gain nothing.” Bashir said.

However afghan authorities and traders consider these issues pressure tactic by Pakistan but they did not clarify the purpose of this political pressure.

In addition, the government of Pakistan has also made the passport and visa mandatory to enter Pakistan.

Aw/nh

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