The Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) on Wednesday said that Pakistan has suffered a $70 million loss over the past two weeks after Islamabad decided to seal its border with Afghanistan.
Khan Jan Alokozai, chairman of (PAJCCI) said more than 12,00 Pakistani trade vehicles are stranded on either side of the border. Afghan and Pakistani factories on the border with Afghanistan are also facing a financial crisis.
According to statistics by PAJCCI, Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces, which are the hubS of fresh fruits and vegetables during the winter, have suffered massively over the border closure. Most of fruits and vegetables from those provinces were destined Afghanistan and onward to central Asian countries.
During normal circumstances, Pakistan sends three hundred vehicles of fruits and vegetables a day to Afghanistan and central Asia.
“If the current situation continued, Pakistan will face a $5 million loss on a daily basis. Currently one kg of tomato in Kabul is sold for around 70 Afs while 7 kg potato in Pakistan is sold for only to 50 Pakistani rupees,” said Alokozai.
According to PAJCCI, the border closure by Pakistan has massively affected Pakistan’s export sector. Pakistan purchases coal and iron from central Asia and in exchange, it exports more than two million tons of vegetables and fruits to central Asia. Pakistan also imports nearly 120,000 tons of cotton from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and exports more than thirty tons of sugar to central Asian countries.
“We want close relations with Pakistan, business communications should not be exploited for politics. We are trying to mend the current situation and use all options,” said Musafir Qoqandi, spokesman of ministry of commerce and industries.
The Border closure by Pakistan has also motivated the Afghan businessmen to find an alternative route for their imports including central Asian regions.
According to businessmen, over the recent days, the level of imports from central Asian nations to Afghanistan have increased dramatically.