Our Correspondent
KHYBER
Clearing Agent Association, Torkham boycotted the clearing process on Monday against what they said were unnecessary restrictions, imposed on the Torkham border.
President Torkham Clearing Agent Association Hazrat Umar Shinwari said that since long the clearing agents faced multiple problems and were conveyed to the concerned departments but to in avail,Therefore they had no other option but to halt the clearing process.
A protest camp of the clearing agents was also set up in Torkham.
Pointing out their miseries he said that the Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the 7/24 scheme to keep the border round the clock however the plan could not be materialized that needed to be addressed.
After passing through the export scanner, there was no need to examine the loaded truck manually he added and said the clearing process of perishable items in Torkham custom center should be made after 05:00 pm.
In making valuation the custom officials should take exporters and importers on board in addition with provision of electricity,net service and other facilities to the clearing agents community to function the system smoothly
They demanded to reserve a separate site for export and import examination to speed up the clearing process.
The clearing agents threatened that their strike will continue till acceptance of their demands.
Due to the strike of the clearing agents, hundreds of loaded vehicles stuck at both sides of the border were stuck and long queues of trailers could be witnessed at Landi Kotal-Torkham road.
A session of dialogue between office bearers of the clearing agents and custom officials,supervised by commandant Khyber Rifes was held in forces cantonment but ended fruitless.
