KARACHI: Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Commerce Rana Ihsaan Afzal on Wednesday reassured traders in the southwestern Chaman city that Islamabad would address issues arising out of the closure of Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossings since October.
Pakistan closed its key border crossings with Afghanistan, including the one in Chaman, for trade and movement of people in October after fierce clashes between the two countries. Pakistan and Afghanistan both claimed to have killed scores of each other’s soldiers during the conflict.
Traders on both sides have urged their governments to reopen the borders, saying that closures have caused financial losses and led to disruptions in perishable goods exports, rising unemployment and hardships for the local community dependent on cross-border trade.
Afzal chaired a high-level consultative meeting with leaders, traders and community representatives from Chaman District and the Chaman Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Islamabad on Wednesday, the Pakistani commerce ministry said in a statement.
“The coordinator reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing border trade challenges and ensuring that local communities continue to thrive,” the ministry said.
