QUETTA: A committee formed by Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani to solve problems arising out of the closure of Chaman border between Pakistan and Afghanistan held its first meeting on Sunday.

Members of the committee, including Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove, Minister for Public Health Engineering (PHE) Haji Noor Mohammad Dummar, Asghar Khan Achakzai and Mobeen Khan Khilji, also held negotiations with protesting members of the business community and leaders of political parties who led a sit-in that had blocked roads leading to the border town of Chaman.

They discussed problems created by the closure of Chaman border, matters related to Afghan Transit Trade, law and order situation and smuggling of Afghan goods.

A delegation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chaman, headed by Haji Daru Khan Achakzai and organisers of the sit-in presented their suggestions to the government’s committee.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Langove said that after the closure of Chaman border incidents of terrorism and activities of smugglers had decreased to a great extent.

He said the government would make a plan for providing employment opportunities to the people of Chaman. He said a strategy was being prepared to resume trade activities at the Pak-Afghan border.

Mr Achakzai said that the closure of Chaman border had caused unemployment in the area. A large number of people in Chaman were involved in trade activities at the border, he pointed out.

He expressed the hope that a solution to the problem would be worked out during talks between the government committee and the business community.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2020