PESHAWAR: The Afghan authorities have agreed to release 2,000 containers of Pakistani exporters confiscated earlier this month, Additional Director, Directo­rate of Transit Trade Amjad-ur-Rehman said on Monday during a meeting on Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) issues.

The meeting was attended by ATT officials including Additional Director Headquarters, Zia-ul-Shams and Deputy Director Dr Faisal Bukhari and Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) Senior Vice President Ziaul Haq Sarhadi.

Some 2,500 containers of Pakistani exporters were confiscated by the Afghan authorities at the Khwar Maidan area near Torkham border.

The ATT officials said that the issue was taken up in a meeting with the Afghan authorities represented by Director Afghan Customs, Mohammad Tahir Rasheedi, Abdul Wali Malikzai, Mohammad Qasim Stanikzai and other officials.

The two sides reviewed difficulties in transit trade and issued on the spot directives for resolution. The meeting was followed by orders to release more than 2,000 containers. The remaining 500-600 containers will be released soon.

To facilitate Pakistani exporters, the Torkham border will remain open till 10pm, the officials added.

On the occasion, Mr Sarhadi said such steps of the Afghan government were hurting the Pakistani business community which is forced to pay hefty payments to shipping companies and transporters, a statement released by PAJCCI said.

The ATT officials agreed with the reservations of the delegation and said that Afghan authorities have been contacted in this regard.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2017