Torkham Border Closure Causes Severe Losses for Wholesalers in Rawalpindi and Islamabad

The extended closure of the Torkham crossing point, resulting from tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has led to significant financial losses for wholesale traders in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Dozens of major and mid-sized wholesalers have reported losses between $141,000 and $531,000, with some formerly successful traders now on the verge of ruin, according to local media reports from Friday.

Advance payments made for high-value shipments of Afghan produce, such as grapes, Kandahari pomegranates, vegetables, and dried fruits, have been wasted because the containers are stuck on the Afghan side of the border. Afghan suppliers have declined to refund these losses, stating that the goods were delivered in accordance with the contracts, as reported by the Express Tribune.

This border disruption has driven up prices of grapes and pomegranates in the twin cities to more than $2 per kilogram, which has also impacted the prices of locally produced goods. Traders are calling on the Pakistani government to engage in talks with Afghan authorities to facilitate the release of the stranded containers, even if it means suspending future orders in the meantime.

In the past, closures at the crossing typically lasted from one week to 10 days. However, the current prolonged shutdown has forced wholesalers to seek loans to maintain their local trading operations, while trucks loaded with Pakistani goods remain immobilized, resulting in mutual losses on both sides.

The Durand Line crossings have been closed since October 11, following incidents of ground fighting and Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan.