PAJCCI and the business community on both sides of the border greatly appreciate the announcement made by Muhammad Sadiq, Special Envoy for Afghanistan to operationalize additional border crossings for trade and people to people movement between Pakistan & Afghanistan.
He announced that the Government of Pakistan has decided to open several additional border crossings with Afghanistan to facilitate economic activity and people movement. Arandu between Chitral & Kunar and Benshahi between Lower Dir & Kunar are the first two crossings of the series to be made operational. These crossings are in addition to five fully operational border crossings of Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, Angoor Adda & Chaman-Spin Buldok and one partially opened Dalbadeen crossing. He said that several new border crossings will be opened after the agreement of the Afghan Government and making necessary arrangements.
Zubair Motiwala; Chairman of PAJCCI welcomed this announcement and hoped that government will facilitate business activities, especially with neighboring Afghanistan as it is a cost-effective and efficient trading partner. We are one on both sides of the border sharing cultural, social and economic values and well being of the masses in border areas who are employed in border trade areas instead of coming to big cities with already stressed infrastructure. This is the right step in the uplifting socio-economic status of both countries.
He recommended that before operationalizing new border crossings, governments of both countries must take all measures to first develop supportive infrastructure and operational setups including trained human resources, security, service areas for transporters and the general public, functional booths for quick clearance, provision of electricity, roads, bank counters, drinking water and internet. These measures will ensure the facilitation of trade and also revenue for governments. He also asked governments to consider opening more border crossings in Baluchistan; at present only one border crossing Chaman is functional and bearing the loaf whereas the opportunity is great where CPEC is based and Gawadar port is available with capacity for transit trade with the rest of the world.
He reiterated PAJCCI demand made in March that Swat has been a traditional trade partner of Afghanistan and was using Bajur border for bilateral trade which was closed after August 2021 due to regime change in Afghanistan. There are four border points connecting Swat and Afghanistan however “Nawapass” border crossing has infrastructure on both sides and both governments must take measures to open it at the earliest possible instance. The trade-in Swat is suffering due to the long route via Torkham and the local furniture industry has hugely suffered as it was easy and cost-effective to bring raw material from Afghanistan via Bajur.