PESHAWAR: The Ghulam Khan route in North Waziristan Agency will be opened for bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan for 15 days on trial basis from March 7, an official said.

Assistant political officer Taimur Khan Afridi told traders in Miramshah on Sunday that a convoy of 15 trucks loaded with export items would proceed from Miramshah to Khost on the opening day. He said that loaded vehicles would also come to Pakistan via Ghulam Khan checkpost.

He said that security forces and local administration had finalised all arrangements and sought cooperation from local traders in that regard. He said that security forces would provide full protection to trade convoys. He said after completing the trial the route would be opened for traffic permanently.

Ghulam Khan crossing point, one of the seven notified trade routes with Afghanistan, was closed for trade and normal traffic in June 2014 when army launched an operation against militants. After Torkham in Khyber Agency and Chaman in Balochistan, Ghulam Khan is the third busiest trade corridor with Afghanistan. The road from Miramshah to Ghulam Khan was widened to facilitate transporters and traders. After closure of the route trade with Afghanistan via North Waziristan Agency was shifted to Kurram Agency.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2018