LANDI KOTAL: The Frontier Corps on Saturday started removing unnecessary blockades erected in front of the commercial centres and offices of customs clearing agents at the Torkham border. The action was taken in light of the instructions issued by Corps Commander Peshawar during his visit to the border a month ago.

Local traders, restaurant owners and clearing agents had long been demanding removal of the concrete wall built by the National Logistics Cell some years ago as it had adversely affected their businesses. Commandant Khyber Rifles Colonel Farrukh Humayun along with Assistant Commissioner, Landi Kotal, Niaz Mohammad visited Torkham border and identified the locations upon the recommendations of the customs clearing agents and traders where passages were to be created in the concrete wall built right in front of the business centres.

Officials said the move would provide easy access to Afghans and customers to local markets and restaurants while the customs clearing agents too would benefit from it as they had to take a long alternative route to reach offices of political administration, customs and immigration.

The construction of the wall by the NLC had caused monetary loses to local traders and Afghans entering Pakistan via the border crossing were denied easy entry to the business centres.

A number of traders and restaurant owners had abandoned their businesses and shifted to other places since the construction of the concrete wall.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2018