SCCI calls for immediate resumption of Af-Pak trade

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa business community has called for the immediate reopening of the Torkham crossing and resumption of the Pakistan-Afghanistan trade.

Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Fazal Moqeem Khan issued the call at a meeting with KP Customs Chief Collector Khawaja Khurram Naeem here on Wednesday.

Accompanied by several business leaders,  the SCCI chief demanded a review of customs duties/tariffs and immediate restoration of Pak-Afghan mutual trade through the Torkham crossing.

Moqeem highlighted traders’ concerns over the closure of the Torkham route for the last three weeks, bureaucratic hurdles to smooth trade, a ban on dollar declaration and other problems.

The closure of Torkham crossing on petty issues was not compounding traders’ problems on the one hand and taking a toll on bilateral trade, he argued.

He also asked the federal government to launch a cargo train service from Peshawar to Karachi and stop rechecking of vehicles loaded with export goods at the port.

The chief collector said the customs department was taking practical steps to carry out smooth cross-border trade and exports.

mud