KARACHI: All Pakistan Bonded Carriers Association has reiterated their stance that they would not lift transit goods unless Afghanistan authorities start behaving.
Its been three days the bonded carriers have stopped lifting transit cargo destined for Afghanistan. The strike was called after Afghan authorities detained over 2000 Pakistani trailers along with containers at Torkham border.
It is reliably learnt that Afghan authorities are demanding bribe of Rs30000 approximately for releasing each vehicle.
It is surprising that Pakistan government and diplomatic mission in Afghanistan have not taken up this issue with the hostile neighboring country.
Pakistani vehicles are detained in Afghanistan but Afghan export consignments are cleared without any delay.
Sources said that this was an alarming situation. Whenever any Afghan vehicle is stopped Pakistan, Afghan consulate immediately comes to rescue, but unfortunately Pakistan’s foreign service is the worst and they do not facilitate or help Pakistanis anywhere in the world.
President Jalalabad Chamber of Commerce Atiqullah and brokers who are mostly Afghans having Pakistani CNIC has also pressurized the bonded carriers to end the strike, but the office bearers of bonded carrier association are firm that the strike will continue unless the issues are resolved.
