KABUL (SW): Closure of the crossing points between Afghanistan and Pakistan has inflicted financial losses of millions of dollars on both sides, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) noted on Tuesday.
Khan Jan Alokozai, deputy director for the ACCI, said in addition to millions of dollars worth of loss to Afghan trade, 150 shipments for export destined to Pakistan’s Karachi port could not make it. The ACCI deputy director urged the government and other regional and international trade entities such as Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) to bring an end to the constant closure of trade routes by Pakistan.
Alokozai suggested to the Afghan businessmen to think about safer and better alternate routes for trade.
Aazarakhsh Hafizi, head of international relations at the ACCI, said on the occasion Pakistan and Afghanistan are members of ECO and WTO which does not allow unilateral closure of trade routes.
Torkham and Spin Boldak crossing points were re-opened for two days on Tuesday after 19 days of unilateral closure.
ENDS
