The Pakistani Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has urged Islamabad to urgently reopen the vital Afghanistan-Pakistan Highway for trade and transportation, which has been closed for several months.
SCCI President Fazal Moqeem recently stated that the closure of the trade routes has brought trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan to a standstill, severely affecting bilateral trade.
Moqeem highlighted that both mutual and transit trade volumes have dropped alarming, leading traders to shift their business to Iran and the Central Asian Republics.
The SCCI chief warned that if the issue is not resolved soon, bilateral trade could come to a complete halt, which would significantly harm Pakistan’s economy.
Moqeem also expressed concern that the continued closure of trade routes would lead to widespread unemployment due to business shutdowns.
Zahidullah Shinwari, a prominent businessman, echoed these concerns, noting that traders on both sides of the border have suffered heavy financial losses due to the trade route closures.
Shinwari added that local residents and travelers have faced significant hardships because of the blocked highway and called for Islamabad to take immediate action to resolve the situation.
Both Moqeem and Shinwari stressed the importance of resolving the issue through mutual consensus and negotiation to restore normal trade relations.
The closure of trade routes has significantly impacted Afghanistan’s economy, particularly when the country needs economic stability and growth.
Reopening the Afghanistan-Pakistan Highway is crucial for improving trade relations between the two nations and promoting regional economic recovery and preventing further economic decline.
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