Pak-Afghan prolonged border closure inflicts massive losses on traders

PESHAWAR: The bilateral trade and transit trade had adversely affected due to the prolonged closure of the border crossing points that has inflicted massive financial losses and triggered joblessness, traders said.

Traders stated this during an executive committee meeting of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, chaired by its President Junaid Altaf.

The meeting was attended by senior office-bearers, members of the committee, traders, industrialists, importers and exporters.

The forum debated in detail on the closure of the Pak-Afghan sharing border and four other crossing points and took a unified stance on this crucial matter.

The forum emphasised that the issue must be addressed through table talks and resume the bilateral trade and transit trade to avoid further financial losses to the trading community.

The EC took a clear stance that the business community has fully sensing the gravity of the situation and current internal and external security issues and there will be no compromise on the country’s security and peace.

The forum, however, stressed the resumption of bilateral trade is crucial for economic stability, growth, business and commercial and industrial activities.

President Junaid Altaf while apprising the house stated that more than 12,000 containers of Pak-Afghan and Transit Trade had stranded at the Karachi Port and traders have been compelled to heavy demurrage and detention charges.

President Junaid Altaf informed the closure has disrupted perishable exports, raised unemployment, and inflicted severe socio-economic hardship on border communities dependent on cross-border trade, emphasizing to acknowledge the gravity of the situation and this issue must be addressed on priority grounds.

Furthermore, he informed that stakeholders report losses of millions of dollars per day from container detention and billions blocked in bank guarantees and container security deposits.

The liquidity of clearing agents and bonded carriers has been exhausted, while foreign shipping lines continue to accrue charges, Junaid Altaf said.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026