PESHAWAR, Feb 12: Exports of glass sheets, cement and foam matrices from Peshawar to Afghanistan increased substantially during the last couple of weeks, according to sources.

Several trucks loaded with these items leave the local markets for Jalalabad every day, recording sudden increase in exports of these three items.

Some 20 to 25 trucks loaded with glass sheet are leaving Peshawar every day for the Afghan destinations via Torkham town on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Similarly, according to local business circles some 15 to 20 trucks loaded with foam matrices were being dispatched every day to Jalalabad, the capital city of eastern Nangarhar province, from the Peshawar market, recording increase in demand for matrices inside Afghanistan.

Export related trade and business activities in the local wholesale market experienced major boost during the last fortnight as consumable goods demand from Afghanistan rose after life returned to normalcy in Jalalabad and other eastern parts of Afghanistan.

However, recent increase in demand for glass sheets, cement and foam matrices has been attributed to the larger number of foreign visitors Afghanistan has received in the post-Taliban situation and construction taken at hand in several parts of the war-ravaged country.

Staff of the relief agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), sources said, had taken positions in several parts of Afghanistan to initiate relief activities whereas construction of irrigation channels, repairs of damaged houses and offices for the NGOs’ workers had started in several towns.

Sources said though cement of Iranian and Russian origin had flooded the Afghan markets, demand for Pakistan’s cement appeared to be much more greater than the product of the two countries.

Similarly, sources said, as more and more aid and relief goods were finding their way in Afghanistan foam matrices appeared to be one such item whose sales for Afghanistan recorded substantial increase in Peshawar markets.