The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced on Thursday that customs clearance of exports and imports has remained suspended at major border crossings with Afghanistan since October 12, following intense clashes between security forces on both sides.
According to a statement, customs operations at the border stations of Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, and Angoor Adda were halted due to security concerns.
Most staff members were temporarily relocated to the headquarters, while a limited number of inspectors and sepoys remain stationed at each border post to resume operations once the situation normalises and trade movement is restored.
The FBR said the Collectorates of the Northern Region have cleared all import consignments that arrived before the suspension. “At the customs stations of Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi and Angoor Adda, a total of 363 import vehicles with filed Goods Declarations (GDs) have been cleared,” the statement read.
At Torkham, the busiest trade route in the northern region, around 255 export vehicles and 24 import vehicles remain parked at the terminal, while another 200 are stranded along the Jamrud–Landi Kotal road.
At the Chaman border, five import and 25 export vehicles are pending clearance as traders and exporters have yet to file GDs. In addition to these, approximately 500 vehicles carrying Afghan transit cargo are also awaiting clearance at Torkham and Chaman.
On Thursday, Pakistan partially restored the Afghan Transit Trade after a 10-day suspension. A detailed notification has been issued by the Directorate of Transit Trade (Customs), according to which the cargo operations will be completed in three phases.
