Sherpao for reopening Torkham border

CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Tuesday said the closure of Torkham border was causing losses to traders on both sides of the border, therefore, the government should reopen it. Addressing a gathering of party workers at Sherpao village, he said both sides should hold talks to sort out bilateral issues.

Aftab Sherpao said the border closure would sow discord between the two countries, urging the government to solve all the issues through diplomatic channels. The closure of the Pak-Afghan border at Torkham would create problems for the business community, traders and other people, he added.

The QWP leader said that trade volume between Afghanistan and Pakistan was already low and the government should take steps to boost trade and business activities between the two brotherly countries.

Calling for unity to steer the country towards progress, the QWP leader said the political forces should set aside petty differences and join hands to address the challenges facing the country.

Commenting on the skyrocketing inflation, Aftab Sherpao said the people were grappling with a host of issues, including rising inflation, adding that relief should be provided to the have-nots as they were unable to feed their children let alone sending them to the schools. He said the people had high expectations of their leaders in times of crisis, therefore, they should work together to address the prevailing challenges.

The QWP leader said the people would lose interest in the political system if politicians continued bickering over non-issues. “The people are mature. They want an end to lawlessness, unemployment and poverty,” he maintained.

Shedding light on his party’s manifesto, Aftab Sherpao promised that the QWP would spare no effort to provide health and education facilities to people besides working for the restoration of peace. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lagged behind in the race of development so concerted efforts were needed to put the province on the path to prosperity. He lamented that the previous provincial government did nothing for the development of KP and left the province in dire straits.