LANDIKOTAL
\nTravelers including women, elderly men,truckers and traders complained that the Torkham border meant to be a bridge between the two brotherly nations has become a nightmare of delays, humiliation and official apathy.
\nTalking to The News travlers on Tuesday said that they in the harsh heat of summer waiting in long congusted queues for hours to cross the border. The message is clear for those crossing the Torkham border that
\n\u201cyou are not welcome with dignity,\u201d said Mirwes Mohmand, a trader from Lalpura. \u201cWe spend hours in queues under the open sky, without water or shelter. Elderly and sick people collapse in the heat, but no one listens.\u201d
\nThe border, one of South Asia\u2019s busiest land crossings, lacks basic facilities. Passengers complain of slow biometric systems, insufficient staff and uncoordinated checks by multiple agencies.
\nZia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, Senior Vice President of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce in Industry(PAJCCI) has long raised concerns about the state of the crossing point.
\n\u201cThe government must establish separate lanes for cargo and passengers to avoid the current mess,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are too few biometric scanners and even those often break down. Proper maintenance is urgently needed.\u201d
\nHe stressed the importance of dignity and ease at the border, particularly for the vulnerable. \u201cWe need shaded, ventilated waiting halls with clean drinking water and functional toilets. Treating people with respect is not a luxury but it\u2019s a basic requirement,\u201d Sarhadi said.
\nReferring to the behavior of border personnel, Sarhadi also called for training in cultural sensitivity. \u201cMost travelers belong to tribal areas. Officials must understand local customs and norms. A little respect goes a long way.\u201d
\nHe further recommended reducing the number of government agencies involved in routine checking. \u201cCurrently, multiple departments duplicate each other\u2019s work, creating delays and confusion. There should be a single-window operation,\u201d he suggested.
\nTo improve coordination and resolve issues in real time, Sarhadi proposed the formation of a joint monitoring cell between Pakistan and Afghanistan. \u201cA bilateral mechanism can help solve ground-level problems faster and reduce tensions,\u201d he said.
\nLocal elder Haji Shah Nawaz from Shinwari tribe also expressed anger over the treatment of tribal passengers. \u201cEven patients and women are made to stand in line for hours. Where is the humanity?\u201d he asked.
\nStudents and business travelers have raised similar concerns. \u201cI missed a university entrance interview in Jalalabad because the line at immigration took seven hours,\u201d said Fazal Rabi, a student from Peshawar. \u201cNo one cared.\u201d
\nDespite repeated assurances from authorities, no major improvements have been made in recent months. Trade remains slow, humanitarian concerns are growing and trust on both sides of the border is fading.
\nUntil meaningful reforms were not introduced and implemented with seriousness, experts warn that economic cooperation and diplomatic dialogue would ring hollow.
\n\u201cThe border should be a place of connection, not conflict,\u201d Sarhadi said. \u201cRespect and reform must come now.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LANDIKOTAL Travelers including women, elderly men,truckers and traders complained that the Torkham border meant to be a bridge between the two brotherly nations has become a nightmare of delays, humiliation and official apathy. Talking to The News travlers on Tuesday said that they in the harsh heat of summer waiting in long congusted queues for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-489036","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n