PESHAWAR: Pakistan has decided to open for five days a week Torkham and Chaman border crossings in order to facilitate bilateral and transit trade with Afghanistan, said a notification issued by the interior ministry.
The decision to open the border was taken in the recently held National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) conference regarding the management of Afghan transit and bilateral trade.
“Torkham and Chaman border crossings will be opened five days a week (Monday to Friday) for export, both for the Afghan transit trade and bilateral trade,” the notification read. “A maximum of 100 trucks [each] will be allowed from Torkham and Chaman borders per day. NATO & ISAF cargo and fuel tankers may also be allowed while ensuring coronavirus SOPs/protocols.
According to the notification, the pedestrian movement of stranded Pakistanis from Afghanistan would be allowed once a week (Saturday). A maximum of 500 and 300 individuals will be allowed from Torkham and Chaman borders, respectively.
The exports of food items (other than those on the negative list) will also be allowed to Afghanistan.
On March 16, Pakistan had closed its western borders with Afghanistan to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. The decision had badly affected Pakistan’s bilateral and transit trade with Afghanistan.
The Senate’s standing committee was recently informed that a total of 1,900 Afghanistan-bound containers were stranded on the Karachi port.
On April 10, Pakistan had opened the Afghan border for three days a week on humanitarian grounds for the transport of vegetables, fresh fruits and other essential items.
