LANDI KOTAL: Trade activities at the Torkham border remained paralysed on the second consecutive day on Friday as negotiations between the protesting custom clearing agents and officials of the custom department ended without any breakthrough.

A local clearing agent, Naseeb Khan, told this correspondent that hundreds of trucks loaded with a variety of trade goods remained stranded on both sides of the border as the customs officials could not convince the protesting clearing agents and transporters on ending their strike.

He said that the official team assured the delegation of clearing agents that their immediate grievances regarding bottlenecks in goods clearance would be removed at local level while other demands related to the federal government would be taken up with the concerned officials in Islamabad.

Mr Naseeb said that the clearing agents and transporters insisted on acceptance of all their three demands, claiming that they had incurred big losses due to unprofessional attitude of both the custom officials and staff of the National Logistics Cell.

Meanwhile, more trucks loaded with fresh fruit and vegetables also arrived at the Afghan side of the border with no immediate signs of end to the strike.

Sabir Khan, a local trader, said that nearly 200 vehicles loaded with cotton and beans were awaiting clearance for export to Afghanistan for the last five weeks as the custom officials along with NLC staff were insisting on fumigation of the trucks while the facility was not available at Torkham border.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2018