PESHAWAR: The business community has demanded of the government to allow the trucks loaded with perishable items to cross over into Afghanistan after proper medical checkup of the drivers to save the owners from suffering huge financial losses.

The demand was made at an oath-taking ceremony of Anjuman-i-Tajiran Peshawar Saddar here on Wednesday. Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Eng Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz was the chief guest.

On the occasion, Mr Pervaiz said the government had already taken preemptive steps against coronavirus, so the stranded trucks should be allowed through the border. He said restrictions on movement of transit goods containers to Afghanistan via Torkham would impact negatively the country’s economy and bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He assured the traders community of Peshawar Sadder of taking up their issues with the customs, Wapda, excise and taxation departments.

Other traders feared that if the stranded trucks were not allowed to cross the border the business community would suffer huge financial losses.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2020