Pakistan to permit food, medicine import to Afghanistan

• The trade is likely to begin from next week, says envoy.

Pakistan has allowed Afghanistan traders to import food and medicine supplies across the border, said Afghanistan envoy Mohammad Atif Mashal.While talking to Tolo News, Mashal said that the trade is likely to begin from next week. “We agreed on a mechanism to allow Afghan traders to import at least two items of food and medicine,” said Mashal.

“Talks are ongoing to open the borders,” said Shamroz Khan Masjidi, spokesman for the Ministry of Finance.

It may be mentioned here Over 14,000 Afghanistan-bound containers loaded with transit trade and Pakistani export goods are stranded at Chaman and Torkham border crossings and Karachi port due to the closure of Pakistan's border with Afghanistan as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Meanwhile, the commercial attaché at the Consulate-General of Afghanistan has also raised the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad, regarding the containers carrying Afghan transit cargo containing medicines, foods and other items of basic needs being stuck at Chaman and Torkham borders as well as at Karachi Port for the last 30 days and the advice of the government of Pakistan to Afghanistan to make arrangements on its side of the border to quarantine drivers for 14 days before allowing them back into Pakistan.

Pakistan has closed borders with Afghanistan and Iran for up until April 9.