Landi Kotal bazaar suffers due to closure of Torkham border

Abdul Hakeem, a resident of LandiKotal Khyber Agency, is a cloth merchant at LandiKotal bazaar, whose business like other shopkeepers was being affected after suspension of movement on Pak-Afghan Torkham border. The Afghan nationals residing near Torkham border used to come to LandiKotal bazaar on daily basis and taking cloths to their homes but now they do not come here, he said.
The clearance agents and traders engaged in their businesses at Torkham border were buying daily use commodities and other items at LandiKotal bazaar but right now those people have confined to their homes, he explained. Though, the blockade of Torkham border has not only suffered the traders, Customs clearance agents, handcart pushers and others but it has also left severe impact on shopkeepers in Landi Kotal bazaar, some 7km away from Torkham bordering area. "I used to sell groceries of around Rs 150,00 per day as it has reduced to Rs 5000 after suspension of Torkham border," regretted Ikramullah, a vegetable seller at Landi Kotal bazaar. Local tribesmen were unable to buy groceries in bazaar as they were also suffered, he added.
The vegetables and fruits are getting rotten due to less numbers of customers and the same thing causes monetary losses to groceries shopkeepers, he stated. As the busy Landi Kotal bazaar shows a deserted look and all economic activities have been reduced to 75 percent from 100 percent after the Pakistani authorities announced sealing Pak-Afghan Torkham border, said Lal Rahim, president of traders union at Landi Kotal bazaar.
"The wave of unemployment, robberies and uncertainly will prevail owing to lack of monetary activities in Landi Kotal bazaar," remarked Rahim. The recent tension on Torkham border will certainly enhance frustration among the local tribesmen, he added. However, he also informed that people living on both sides of border come to bazaar and take luggage.
After the wave of recent terrorist attacks in Lahore and Sehwan in Sindh, the Pakistani high-ups announced to seal Pak-Afghan Torkham border along with Chaman border in Quetta, Ghulam Khan, AngoorAdda and KharLachi in Kurram Agency to avoid any mishap.