The clearing process at Torkham border came to a halt on Thursday when the Torkham Clearing Agents Association started an indefinite strike against what they described as anti-trading policies adopted by the Customs and National Logistic Cell (NLC). They were of the view that business with Afghanistan and other central Asian countries through Torkham border had decreased to one-fourth due to ‘unfavourable’ strategies of the authorities concerned. Torkham Clearing Agents Association President Haji Zerqeeb Shinwari Friday said that the clearing agents’ community had conveyed its grievances to authorities concerned but to no avail.
“We have presented a list of 14 points to the Customs and other related departments and have decided not to resume clearing activities until our demands are met,” Shinwari said. He urged the government to provide facilities at Torkham Customs Centre and revise all those decrees, causing harm to export and import. Due to the strike, hundreds of truckloads are stuck on both sides of the border, a Torkham administration official said.
Published in Daily Times, November 17th 2018.
