The closure of the Ghulam Khan border is detrimental to the economy of Pakistan

The closure of the Ghulam Khan border is detrimental to the economy of Pakistan.

by Abdus Salam Baitab Bannu:

The closure of the Ghulam Khan border is not only causing losses to local traders, but it is also having adverse effects on Pakistan’s economy. Due to the closure of this border, Pakistan is being deprived of billions of rupees in foreign exchange annually. The suspension of the route has caused serious concern among traders across the country, especially in Bannu and the southern districts. On one hand, their businesses have come to a halt; on the other hand, billions of rupees remain stuck in Afghanistan for this reason, the Chamber of Commerce has been demanding at every forum that the route be reopened. These remarks were made by the General Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Ghulam Qibaz Khan.
According to a survey of the medicine market in Bannu, the largest market for Pakistani medicines was Afghanistan, especially the province bordering Pakistan. There, a single pharmaceutical company used to generate more than two billion rupees in business in just one week. However, due to the closure of the route, this trade has come to a complete halt. Billions of rupees have also been stuck, and their payment will only be possible once the road is reopened.
In trade, the rule is that the easiest and shortest routes are chosen. Along with this, those routes are explored on which the least amount of time is required for transportation. Keeping this principle in mind, if we assess the importance of the Ghulam route, we can determine its significance from the fact that it is the nearest route for access from Gwadar Port to Afghanistan and then to Central Asia. It takes seven to eight days to reach the Torkham border from Gwadar, whereas it takes only three days to reach Afghanistan’s Khost province from Gwadar Port. This proves that this route is extremely close and highly efficient. On one hand, this reduces the transportation cost for traders, and on the other hand, the goods are delivered on time. If the goods are of such a nature that they spoil within three or four days, traders are also protected from that loss.Due to the current situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, traders are the most concerned. They want this issue to be resolved through negotiations in some way, and they seek a permanent solution to the problem.
Besides traders, transporters are also being significantly affected by this route, because through this route, 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles used to pass daily. Due to the closure of the route, these vehicles are now left idle at the depots.
The whole world knows and this is fact that Pakistan and Afghanistan are brotherly Islamic countries. Their people share close ties and relationships with one another. After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, Pakistan honorably hosted one of the largest refugee populations in the world. A whole generation of Afghans was born here, grew up here, and received their education here. Similarly, people from Pakistan used to go to Afghanistan and conduct business as if they were operating in their own country.
Therefore, this is the voice of the day and the demands of time and circumstances require that, keeping in mind the concerns of the public, traders, doctors, and people from other walks of life, the governments of both countries should play their role in bringing the two nations closer together. This would result in the reopening of transit routes, the revival of trade not only between the two countries but also with Central Asia, and enable Pakistani traders to once again earn foreign exchange for the country, thereby strengthening the national economy.
The Bannu Chamber of Commerce has also demanded from the government that the route be opened immediately so that they can start trade activities from Central Asia through this nearby route, which will bring a new wave of development to the region.