An association of Afghan exporters and importers residing in China said that over 1000 containers are banned in Karachi port.

The head of the association, Khan Agha Gulzad, told TOLOnews that Afghan traders still face a lot of challenges in Karachi port and asked the Islamic Emirate to address their challenges. 

According to Gulzad, traders have sustained millions of dollars in losses as their goods remained stranded in Karachi, Pakistan.

“The problems that Pakistan creates for Afghan traders in Karachi port are unbearable and now more than one thousand containers are stuck in this port and they are not allowed to enter,” he added. 

The deputy head of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, Mohammad Younus Momand called on Pakistan to remove the restrictions on Afghan transit goods. 

“Afghan and Pakistani governments should solve the problem and create more facilities for businesspeople,” he added. 

On the other hand, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said that the Islamic Emirate is committed to addressing the issues of traders. 

“Now more than 300 containers are stuck in Karachi port and discussions for their release with Pakistan continue,” said Qudratullah Jamal, the deputy of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. 

Almost a couple of months ago, the acting Minister of Commerce and Industries left for Pakistan to look into the release of the held containers and to normalize the commercial relations between the two countries, which resulted in the release of about 3,000 containers, but 450 containers are still stuck.