The Ministry of Commerce is expected to recommend allowing a one-time movement of commercial transit cargo under transit trade with Afghanistan, in response to ongoing financial losses faced by traders and transporters due to the prolonged closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Business Recorder reported that this issue was raised during a meeting between Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and stakeholders from the Chaman border. The stakeholders informed the minister that transit cargo destined for Afghanistan and Central Asia had been offloaded at Pakistan’s ports due to the border closure, and vehicles assigned to these consignments were detached. Approximately 600 vehicles, en route or already at the Chaman and Torkham borders, remain stranded at various locations.
Stakeholders warned of significant daily losses from nearly 10,000 detained containers, each incurring a $70 detention cost, amounting to $700,000 in daily losses and millions in total liabilities. Port demurrage and terminal yard charges are also accumulating, with approximately 8,000 containers facing daily charges of Rs4,000 each, totaling Rs1.8 billion.
If unresolved, stakeholders warned that trade could become unsustainable, benefiting foreign shipping lines over Pakistan’s service sector. Stranded vehicles, with daily detention costs of Rs10,000 each, have caused Rs6 million in daily losses, totaling Rs330 million. Additionally, Rs1 billion in bank guarantees and Rs2 billion in container security deposits have been locked, further straining the service sector’s liquidity.
Although the Ministry of Commerce has allowed Uzbek transit cargo through the Sust and Taftan borders, Chaman stakeholders urged the minister to permit the one-time movement of commercial cargo, citing a statement from Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar regarding the reopening of borders for humanitarian assistance.
The stakeholders emphasised that Pakistan’s service sector, which handles port operations, transportation, security deposits, and bank guarantees, plays a crucial role in the transit trade supply chain. Allowing the shipment movement would minimise financial losses for local businesses and preserve the integrity of legitimate trade.
The All Pakistan Customs Bonded Carrier Association has also urged the government to instruct shipping lines and container terminals to stop charging detention and port storage fees and waive all charges retroactively from October 13, 2025, when the border was closed.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan assured the delegation that their concerns would be presented to relevant authorities and discussed at appropriate bilateral forums to find sustainable solutions that balance security requirements with the promotion of lawful trade and economic activity.
