LANDI KOTAL: MNA Haji Shahji Gul has said that Torkham border should be kept open for trade round the clock on the pattern of Wagha border in order to accelerate trade activities between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Talking to a jirga of Shinwari, Zakhakhel and Shaman elders here on Saturday, he said that enhanced economic activities at Torkham border would generate additional employment opportunities for local traders, transporters and ordinary people.

He said that establishment of lasting peace in any part of Fata was directly linked to economic development of the area and keeping Torkham border open day and night would provide such opportunities.

He chided the local political administration for not properly utilising development funds for the welfare of people and said that Landi Kotal tehsil was backward due to continuous negligence of the administration.

Mr Gul assured the Landi Kotal bazaar traders association that he would take up with political agent the issue of undue interference of political administration in the repair of old shops and construction of new ones. He also donated a vehicle for cleanliness of the bazaar.

Later, he visited the agency headquarters hospital and assured the health staff there that a new transformer would soon be installed and the old one repaired to overcome electricity problem at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Khasadar force on Saturday arrested an Afghan national and seized a gun from him.

Officials said that the arrested man Abdul Qadoos while brandishing a gun in his hands tried to forcibly stop a taxi cab near Charwazgai checkpost in which another Afghan national was going to Peshawar along with his family.

The gunman opened fire when the person sitting in the cab came out of the car and ran for cover. The khasadar officials posted at the nearby checkpost rushed to the scene and overpowered the gunman.