Import of fresh fruit, vegetables from Afghanistan banned

LANDIKOTAL: The Pakistan Customs and Food Department banned import of food items from Afghanistan and stopped loaded truck at Torkham border, sources said on Wednesday.

The Customs officials put forward seven conditions for importing fresh and dry fruits, cooking oil and ghee from Afghanistan. On Wednesday, the authorities stopped at least 50 trucks at the border.

Meanwhile, All Torkham Customs Clearing Agents Association president Hayatullah Shinwari and other office-bearers told a press conference in Landikotal Press Club that despite other restrictions, Pakistan customs now snatched business from the tribal people.

Rejecting the conditions by the Customs authorities as illegal, Shinwari said the conditions imposed for import of goods were impossible to fulfil by the transporters.

Hayatullah said the imports from Afghanistan were completely stopped, which would also affect the national exchequer. He said that 50 trucks loaded with different kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables were stranded at Torkham and would be wasted if not permitted to reach Peshawar and other cities in time. Shinwari said that as reaction, Afghanistan would also stop all its export and import from Pakistan.

The customs clearing agents and businessmen threatened to launch protest if the Pakistan Customs did not withdraw its conditions within one week. When contacted, an official customs official said that they had imposed certain necessary conditions and asked importers and transporters to submit the required documents to organise imports from Afghanistan. He said they would not allow any kind of goods from Afghanistan to enter Pakistan without the required documents.