PESHAWAR - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-based business leaders have called for the withdrawal of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the border town of Torkham to remove hurdles to Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral and transit trade.
Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Senior Vice President Shahid Hussain issued the call during a meeting with Transit Trade Karachi Director General Raza Ahmad Khan.
Raza met a delegation of traders at the Model Customs House in Peshawar, the provincial capital, on Saturday.
On issues being faced by customs clearing agents and the business community, another SCCI leader Ziaul Haq Sarhadi said nearly 7,000 transit trade containers and trucks were stuck on the border due to the slow clearing process at the port.
As a consequence, the Pak-Afghan bilateral and transit trade had suffered enormously, he complained, saying heavy fees were being charged in demurrage and detention at the Karachi port.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq said five border crossings were operational for cross-border trade.
In a tweet, the diplomat said the border crossings included Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, Angor Adda and Chaman.

 “Trying to speed up the clearance of trucks through better organisation and efficient handling. All private parking lots are also being abolished,” he said. (Pajhwok)