PESHAWAR: The All Torkham Border Customs Clearing Agents Association on Wednesday urged the federal and provincial governments, as well as the military authorities, to immediately reopen the Pakistan-Afghanistan Torkham border for transit trade, which, they said, has remained closed for the past 10 months.
The association’s president, Mujeeb Shinwari, made the demand while addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club.He said the closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border over the last 10 months had left labourers jobless, while clearing agents were struggling to survive. He added that many people had been forced to migrate from the area due to the lack of business opportunities.
Mujeeb Shinwari urged the provincial, federal and military leadership to hold meaningful talks with Afghanistan to end the border closure and find an immediate solution to the issue.He said there was no industry in the tribal areas, and many young people were falling victim to drug addiction due to the lack of employment opportunities.
The Association chief warned that unemployed youth could be driven towards terrorist groups, calling it a serious concern, as they were among those worst affected by the prolonged border closure.He also said the association had repeatedly sought an appointment with KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, but he failed to address their concerns.
