The Islamic Emirate said that efforts to release the 450 restricted containers of Afghan transit items in Karachi port continue.
The spokesman of the Islamic Emirate told TOLOnews that the Pakistan caretaker government pledged that the restricted Afghan trader’s containers will be released.
“We have attempted through every channel to address the containers that are stuck in Karachi port. These are our property and should be allowed to be transferred, and Pakistan promised their assistance in this regard and we are waiting for a solution to the problem," said Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of Islamic Emirate.
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan–Pakistan joint chamber of commerce said that the banned containers have caused the traders major financial losses and they want the Islamic Emirate to talk with Pakistani authorities regarding this issue.
“About 400 hundred containers are still held in Karachi and are expensive goods which include beauty materials, tires, black tea and several other kinds of goods,” said Naqibullah Safi, the executive director of the Afghanistan–Pakistan joint chamber of commerce.
Traders and economists said that if the trade with Pakistan does not return to normal, the commercial relation between the two countries will be damaged.
“This is a lot property of Afghanistan, and the Islamic Emirate should do something in this regard as soon as possible to solve the issue,” said Zalmai Azimi, a trader.
“If they are not permitted to be shipped, besides the traders' face being lost, this is not appropriate in terms of custom and international treaties and trade agreements,” said Qotbuddin Yaqoobi, an economist.
Almost a month ago a delegation led by 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.