Govt asked to lift ban on import of sheep via Torkham

LANDKOTAL: Tribal elders, butchers and politicians on Tuesday asked the government to help facilitate the import of sheep from Afghanistan via the Torkham border for the upcoming Eidul Azha.

Speaking at the “Meet-the-Press” programme at Landikotal Press Club, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Muqtadar Afridi, tribal elder Malik Abdul Razzaq

Afridi, Transport union president Shakir Afridi, Malik Misal Khan Shinwari and Landikotl butcher’s union president Dadeen Khan said that trade activities had shrunk at Torkham border.

They said it was the fifth year the import of sheep was banned from Afghanistan through the Torkham border due to unknown reasons. However, they said sheep were being imported from Afghanistan via the Chaman border.

Malik Abdul Razzaq said that the tribal people had already suffered due to decades long militancy. He asked the Torkham border authorities to relax the restrictions on the import of sheep for religious festivals.

He added that the sheep importers would adopt the corona SOPs while transporting sheep from Afghanistan. He said the import would generate revenue for the government.

Malik Misal Khan said vegetables, fruit and other foods and non-food items were being imported from Afghanistan via Torkham but sheep import remained banned for five years.

Landikotal Butchers Union president Dadeen Khan said the price of mutton had soared from Rs600 to Rs1,400 per kilogram in Landikotal.

He said restrictions on the Torkham border had affected their business.

They threatened to stage a protest if Torkham border was not relaxed for sheep import from Afghanistan.