Atif Ikram Sheikh, the president of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) stated that the one-week closure of the Spin Boldak-Chaman border crossing has left thousands of trucks in a vulnerable situation.
He has called for the immediate reopening of this crossing to prevent financial losses for traders.
The President of FPCCI said, “It is complete chaos once again on the important and indispensable trade route between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
He urged the Pakistani government to allow traders to transport essential goods, including food and medicine, across the border. Sheikh described the situation as a humanitarian and socio-economic crisis.
He said that the Spin Boldak-Chaman crossing is at the heart of the region's complex landscape and the crossing has long been a significant point of interaction between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly as a hub for cross-border trade between the two neighbouring countries.
FPCCI president added that these repeated blockages over the past five years have eroded the authority of the Pakistani government and led to a precarious law and order situation in the border area.