200 vehicles carrying food, other essential goods reach Kurram

PARACHINAR: A convoy of over 200 trucks carrying essential food supplies reached Kurram district on Thursday, while more than 300 trucks were turned back due to unknown reasons.

After a long wait, over 200 vehicles carrying food and other essential goods were allowed to enter Parachinar and other parts of the district. However, more than 300 trucks were reportedly sent back from the Chappri checkpoint without any explanation. Truck drivers claimed they were forced to turn back and, in some cases, subjected to physical mistreatment.

Trader representative, Nazir Ahmed, expressed his frustration, stating that after waiting for 8 to 10 days, only a limited number of vehicles are allowed to proceed into Kurram, while the majority are turned away each time. He called the repeated rejection of supply vehicles at the Chappri checkpoint a highly unfortunate practice.

During a protest sit-in in Parachinar, social activist Musarrat Bangash and tribal elder Malik Zartaj criticised the ongoing delays and restrictions. They noted that while people faced severe shortages of food and medicine during Ramazan, the situation has now worsened, with Eid supplies also failing to reach the district. The leaders demanded an immediate resolution to ensure the smooth transportation of essential goods.

The protesters warned that if supply routes were not permanently opened, they would be compelled to launch a nationwide protest movement after Eid.

On the other hand, district administration and police officials defended their actions, citing security concerns as the reason for turning back some of the vehicles. They assured that steps were being taken to facilitate the transportation of the remaining supplies to Kurram.