Clearing agents, Afghan students: Pakistan to issue border crossing cards

Pakistan's border authorities have decided to issue special border crossing cards to Torkham clearing agents and Afghan students studying in Bacha Mena, the bordering area of Pakistan. Shamsul Islam, passport naib tehsildar, Torkham, said that it was a pilot as well as a limited project. He said the RFID cards would be issued to verified clearing agents and only those students who are studying in Bacha Mena, Torkham.
The card, to be issued to the clearing agent would be valid for three months.
The clearing agents association, Torkham, have repeatedly asked the authorities for provision of special permission while crossing the border, keeping in view their nature of business.
Likewise, the Afghan families residing near border in Afghanistan used to send their children to Pakistani locality for study. Last year, due to the border security measures they were barred from entering Pakistan without legal documents that badly affected their studies.
In response to the long lasting demand of the both communities, the forces and administration officials decided to issue them special cards so that they could move either side of the border without any inconvenience. The administration has asked the concerned people, through a public notice, to contact the Nadra office, Torkham, for registration. The notice further said that the issuance process would be initiated from Monday (today) and the eligibility of the clearing agents and student to get the facility would depend upon verification by the Torkham customs centre and administration of schools.
Chairman of the Torkham Clearing Agent Association, Mairajuddin Shinwari hailed the decision saying it would certainly boost trade activities in the border areas. To avoid any mismanagement in issuance of the card, Shinwari called for taking the agents association on board in authentication process of the agents. Last year, as part of the border management scheme, the Pakistan authorities restricted exit and entry on Torkham border without legal travelling documents.