KHYBER: Scores of jobless labourers and porters held a protest demonstration in Landi Kotal on Sunday against the closure of the Torkham border for pedestrian movement since May 8.

Speaking to the reporters, Torkham border Mazdoor union president Farman Shinwari said nearly 8,000 daily wagers and porters had lost their source of livelihood due to the prolonged closure of the crossing point for pedestrians.

He said a number of labourers had to pull their children out of school as they were unable to pay the monthly fee.

Mr Shinwari said the labourers were already observing the precautions against coronavirus prior to the closure of the border before Eidul Fitr and promised to do so once the crossing point was opened.

Demanding immediate resumption of cross border pedestrian movement, the labour union president urged the authorities concerned to also relax the passport condition for all the daily wagers and porters as they frequently crossed the border.

The protesting labourers threatened to completely block the main road leading to the border if their demands were not accepted within three days.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2021