KHYBER AGENCY: Transporters of Afghan Transit Trade Agreement, stuck up on the Torkham border, staged a protest demonstration on Pak-Afghan border on Thursday. The Pakistan authorities have suspended transportation of commodities and vehicle movements on the border. Dozens of drivers and cleaners, holding black flags, were chanting slogans in favour of their demands.
They were of the view that if they were not allowed to cross the border to Afghanistan then let them return to Karachi to unload the goods there.
Parked in Torkham parking lots for the last 21 days, the perishable goods loaded on trucks were rotting which was big loss for them. The drivers and cleaners have to cook their food themselves after bringing vegetables from eight kilometers away from from Landi Kotal as Torkham bazaar has remained closed since the first day of the trade suspension. They lamented that they are short of money and are meeting their daily needs by borrowing from their colleague drivers.
They demanded the authorities concerned to have mercy on them and address their problem to save them from starving under the open sky.
It is worth mentioning here that approximately 235 vehicles loaded with export and transit goods including cement, flour, potatoes, sugar and small machinery have been stuck on Torkham border.
Meanwhile, the Torkham was sealed for indefinite time after resuming it for two days, border security official said on Thursday.
