Chairman PAJCCI, Zubair Motiwala, on behalf of the business community across the border, highly acknowledged Government of Pakistan's strategic attempt to facilitate movement of cargo trucks and containers to cross over into Afghanistan through Torkham and Chaman border crossing points thrice a week from Friday onwards.

He iterated that this step was taken while responding to Afghanistan Government's special request and based on humanitarian considerations, followed by several deliberations between both the sides.

It was observed that primary attention would be on clearing the stuck transit cargo intended for Afghanistan followed by export consignments of essential items and pharmaceutical products in order to help sustain the Afghanistan economy and population at this time.

Khan Jan Alokozai, Co-Chairman PAJCCI, while acknowledging the support of Pakistan Government extended the gratitude on behalf of business stakeholders from Afghanistan and specified that several mechanisms were discussed in line with keeping trade and transit in effect without compromising upon health measures.

Motiwala also urged the Government of Pakistan to expedite the promised relief by extending the demurrage and detention free days till the stuck consignments are cleared and extend waiver where applicable to safeguard importers from incurring extensive losses in these desperate times.

In an urgent meeting with Ministry of Commerce on identifying the export items that needed to be moved across the border, Chairman PAJCCI listed items of utmost importance primarily of a perishable nature like fruits, vegetables, frozen food, meat followed by items required on day to day basis including edible items like wheat, sugar, pulses, dairy products. He also highlighted that pharmaceutical products and health care necessities are other items whose movement shall also be allowed.-PR