Pak-Afghan border closed, trade volume reduced to $1bn

Due to the lack of continuity in trade policies and the closure of the Pak-Afghan border, the trade volume between Pakistan and Afghanistan has decreased from $2.5 billion to $1 billion.

Until a few years ago, the annual trade volume between neighboring countries Pakistan and Afghanistan was $2.5 billion. However, due to the lack of continuity in policies and the closure of the border due to tension, the trade volume between the two countries has decreased to $1 billion.

Vice President of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi says that Pakistan must gain access to Central Asian states to increase trade volume.

Cement, rice, medicines, vegetables, flour, sugar, and other items are exported from Pakistan to Afghanistan, while fruits and vegetables are imported from Afghanistan. Political instability in Afghanistan has also harmed trade.

It is pertinent to note that the Pak-Afghan border was closed in February due to tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, due to which both countries had to suffer losses of millions of rupees in taxes, while thousands of workers involved in business from Karachi to Torkham also remained unemployed for several days.