Torkham border closed: Pak-Afghan annual trade volume reduces by $1bn

Islamabad: The annual trade volume between Pakistan and Afghanistan has decreased from $2.5 billion to $1.5 billion.

The Torkham trade corridor between Pakistan and Afghanistan remains closed for more than three weeks due to tensions between the two countries. Vehicles loaded with goods are parked at different locations on the Pak-Afghan highway.

Traders and transporters say that they have lost millions of rupees so far due to the border closure.

Pakistan exports cement, rice, medicines, chicken, and meat to Afghanistan through Torkham. It imports large quantities of fruits, vegetables, and coal from Afghanistan.

A few years ago, the annual trade volume between the two countries was more than $2.5 billion, which decreased to $1.4 billion last year.

A jirga consisting of tribal elders and traders from both countries has started work to open the Torkham border, and they are hopeful that they will be able to open the border soon.

The closure of the Torkham border affects the annual trade volume between the two countries that have lost more than three billion rupees in revenue so far due to the suspension of trade activities.