'Closure of Pak-Afghan border causes damage to transit trade'

Zubair Motiwala, Chairman & President PAJCCI, in his interview with Voice of America stated that the sanctity of Pakistan and Afghanistan comes first and PAJCCI stands by all relevant measures that are required to be taken. However, closure of border for such long duration intermittently causes permanent, long-term damage to the bilateral and transit trade.
The traders on both the sides are facing immense losses that also reflect upon the confidence across the border.
The recent figures are showing a rise in Afghanistan's trade with Iran and a corresponding decline in business with Pakistan. Pakistan-Afghanistan trade has dropped significantly in the last two years because of bilateral tension, which is estimated to be approximately 40 percent decline in recent years.
Currently, hundreds of trucks loaded with fresh fruits, vegetables, poultry and other edible items are stranded on the borders, which are near to waste. Additionally, heavy demurrages, waiting time, uncertainty and diversion of both bilateral and transit trade to other avenues is causing psychological rift and is resulting in long-run instability in relations with the prime neighbour of Pakistan.
In a recent press conference in Afghanistan, Khan Jan Alokozai, First Vice Chairman ACCI and Co-President PAJCCI presented the impacts of the recent political tension and shutdown of the Afghan-Pak border on bilateral and transit trade and added that almost five thousand Afghan and Pakistani Cargo is halted at both sides of the border.
He established that by having the transit agreement with Pakistan and also as a member of WTO, SAARC and ECO, it is urged that Pakistani authorities should consider this matter as utmost priority as sealing of border causes damages in millions of dollars, which is now intolerable for the Afghan business community.
He mentioned that 1200 Afghan transit cargo is halted in Pakistan; therefore the Government of Afghanistan should take necessary steps to bring the cargo to Afghanistan without charging any tax or Customs duties.
While representing the sentiments of the Afghan business community, he feared that transit route of Pakistan may not be utilised until the establishment of appropriate climate for the businesses is ensured by the Pakistani government.
He further assured the people of Afghanistan that within one week 25,000 megaton food item will be imported to Afghanistan from central Asian countries and Europe.
Yonass Momand, Vice President of PAJCCI and ACCI also urged the Government of Afghanistan that keeping in view the turbulent business environment, air cargo system for exporting Afghan fresh fruits to the rest of the world especially to India may be ensured.