PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has hailed the decision to allow empty trucks and containers stuck on Afghanistan side to move to the Torkham border, and urged both Kabul and Islamabad to remove the trust deficit to boost bilateral trade.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, SCCI president Faiz Mohammad Faizi said the decision would give further boost to Afghan transit trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and would also facilitate the business community on both sides of the border.

The empty trucks and containers, which remained stuck on Afghanistan side for past many weeks, had started arriving at Torkham border, he said, adding hundreds of empty trucks and containers were held in Khwar Maidan area near Torkham border.

The SCCI chief said he and his team during meetings with federal minister for commerce Abdul Razak Dawood and Afghanistan Ambassador in Pakistan Atif Mishal and other relevant government officials had repeatedly asked for permitting the containers to Pakistan.

He appreciated the federal commerce minister, FC commandant, additional secretary interior ministry, Afghanistan envoy, director Afghan Transit Trade and security institutions for keeping the border opened for the containers beyond the scheduled time.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2019