Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday officially inaugurated the opening of the Torkham border crossing, which is now open around-the-clock, seven days of the week.

The prime minister told the gathered press that the round-the-clock opening of the border crossing will facilitate trade in the region.

“"I consider this to be a very historic day," Khan said, noting that trade with Afghanistan had jumped 50 percent during the trial run of the 24/7 border opening,” Dawn reported.

He said the region will be transformed as soon as peace is established in Afghanistan and trade reaches as far as Central Asia.

"The lives of people in this region will be changed," he said, adding that Peshawar will become a regional business hub, which will generate employment opportunities.