SCCI demands reopening of Pak-Afghan Highway

PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) urged the federal government to take steps to reopen the Pak-Afghan Highway for trade and transportation to save traders on both sides of the border from monetary losses.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, SCCI President Fazal Moqeem said trade had ended due to the closure of Pak-Afghan Highway trade routes for the last several months.He added that the Pak-Afghan mutual trade volume and transit trade had dropped to an alarming level owing to the closure of the trade route, consequently, the business had been shifted from Pakistan to Iran and Central Asian Republics.

The SCCI chief feared the bilateral trade would end completely if the government did not act promptly. “This will not only be detrimental to the national economy but also trigger unemployment owing to the closure of business and trade,” said Muqeem.

Meanwhile, Zahidullah Shinwari, a businessman, stated that Pak-Afghan bilateral trade volume had gone very low.He said trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and transit trade had almost ended in the wake of the closure of the trade route for the last several months. The businessman said halting bilateral trade and transit trade had also inflicted huge financial losses to traders on both sides.

The businessman said local people and passengers were facing hardships due to the Pak-Afghan Highway blockade.Zahidullah Shinwari called for finding a solution to the issue with mutual consensus and negotiation to resume the trade.