PESHAWAR: The exporters have complained about the closure of the Pak-Afghan border and demanded the immediate, brief opening of the border crossings on temporary basis to keep the perishable food items loaded on the stranded vehicles from decaying.
All Pakistan Agriculture Produce Traders Federation central president Malik Sohni told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club that from 400 to 500 trucks carrying vegetable, fruits, jaggery and other perishable food items had been stranded on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border for many days due to the closure of the border crossings.
Accompanied by the federation’s senior vice president, Malik Iftikhar Ahmad Awan, and Gur Traders Association Peshawar president Haji IhsanullahMohmand, Malik Sohni appreciated the government and Pakistan Army’s measures for strengthening security on Pak-Afghan order but complained that the border gates were closed without prior warning to exporters and transporters.
He said traders and merchants dealing in vegetable and fruits had suffered heavy losses as a larger number of trucks and trailers loaded with perishable food items had been stuck on Torkham border.
