Chaman border is the best alternative to serve as Central Asian Republics' Economic Corridor (CAREC), as it is the shortest route and a gateway for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics. President, Chaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Engr. Daroo Khan Achakzai, in a letter sent to Commerce Minister, Engr. Khurram Dastagir Khan has strongly suggested that for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics, Chaman border is better choice than Sust/China border or Torkham route which remain closed as a result of snowfall for about six months.
He has taken strong exception to the exclusion of Chaman CCI from the USAID trade opportunities conference between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics held in Islamabad from April 14-16, jointly organized by Commerce Ministry and USAID and hosted by Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The conference discussed and took decisions on trade opportunities between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics. It was attended by representatives of various chambers but unfortunately not only Chaman-CCI which is a trading chamber, being located on Pak-Afghan border, was ignored, no other chamber/trader from Balochistan was invited to participate.
Engr. Daroo Khan said that among the participants, besides Pakistan and Afghanistan, representatives of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan were there where matters relating to trade with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics were discussed. Presentations were also made by each participant with regard to trade of their countries through/from Pakistan with Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics.
After due deliberations, it was decided that the international route for trade will be used through Karachi port to Sust/China border and Torkham/Afghanistan border. It was emphasised in the letter that Chaman border being the shortest route should be used for the purpose of trade. The distance between Karachi and Chaman is 805 km, while the distance between Karachi/Gwadar, Sust/Torkham is as under:
-- KARACHI - SUST/CHINA BORDER 2300KM.
-- KARACHI - TORKHAM/AFGHANISTAN BORDER 1800KM.
-- GWADAR - SUST/CHINA BORDER. 2700KM, and GWADAR - TORKHAM/AFGHANISTAN BORDER 2200KM
Therefore, if the Trade is routed through Chaman Border, this would not only be shortest route but also remain open during the whole year and would be easy, cheapest and most economical for the traders. On the other hand, if trade is routed through Sust/China border, the maximum leading carriage capacity cannot be increased from above 15 mt on this route and it would also not be feasible for containers cargo. Further, the Sust/China route often remains suspended for about six months due to snowfall, so also, the route through Torkham for Central Asian countries remains suspended in winter season due to snowfall in Dara Salang/Afghanistan.
Engr. Daro Khan said that Chaman is the oldest, shortest and the successful trade route but unfortunately it has been totally ignored which if not used will not only effect the trade of our country but also make the maximum number of labourers etc of Balochistan jobless.
He has, therefore, requested that Chaman being a gateway of Afghanistan to Central Asian Republics, shortest and regular route for the whole year without any whether effects and also to save the people of Balochistan from becoming jobless, the route of Chaman Border may also kindly be considered as CAREC corridor for the purpose.