QUETTA: Daily wage labourers resumed their sit-in at Chaman on Thursday in protest against the government’s decision to make possession of passport mandatory for crossing the Pakistan-Afghan border.

The labourers had called off the months-long sit-in earlier this week after their representatives reached an agreement with the government allowing them to cross the border upon showing national identity cards.

Labourers and traders were allowed to travel up to Pul-i-Takhata, in Spin Buldak district of Afghanistan.

Likewise, Afghans were allowed to enter Pakistan from the Friendship Gate up to the parking area on Chaman border on showing the Afghan ID card Tazkira.

But officials informed labourers’ representatives on Thursday that the government had refused to withdraw the “one document regime” for crossing the Afghan border.

The move prompted the labourers to resume their sit-in.

Balochistan govt’s offer

But the Balochistan government stepped in to placate the enraged protesters, offering to bear all expenses for obtaining passports.

A spokesperson for the Balochistan government said Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti had decided that the provincial government would bear expenses incurred on obtaining passports for the local populace, particularly the poor.

“This decision was implemented immediately. The purpose of this initiative is to simplify travel procedures for daily wage labourers while ensuring compliance with legal requirements,” the government spokesman said.

“Striking labourers in Chaman should take advantage of the government’s initiative by approaching the local office for issuance of a passport,” he added.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2024