Torkham border crossing timings extended by two hours

LANDIKOTAL: Pakistan and Afghan border authorities and Customs officials agreed to extend border opening timings to facilitate smooth running of commercial vehicles flow via Torkham border.

A statement issued by the deputy collector of Pakistan Customs said on Friday that after a consultation with Frontier Corps (FC), Afghan border police and Afghan customs officials, they decided to end the artificial shortage of vehicles across the border.

The statement said the Afghan officials also assured them that they would facilitate the trucks loaded with soapstone and coal being exported to Pakistan.

The statement said FC officials agreed to extend Torkham border opening timing for two hours so that the loaded and empty trucks could move from and to Pakistan without any delay. The statement said that Torkham border would remain open from 7am up to 8pm every day.

The Torkham Customs union leaders and transporters thanked both governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan for the timing extension. They said it would help strengthen bilateral and business ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan.