KARACHI: Thousands of containers carrying goods worth millions of rupees have been stranded at Karachi ports and key border crossings after Pakistan indefinitely suspended the Afghan transit trade amid escalating border tensions between the two countries.
According to Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) President Junaid Makda, around 291 Afghan containers are stuck at Karachi Port and Port Qasim, while 500 are held up at Chaman, 400 at Torkham, 100 at Ghulam Khan, and another 100 at Kharlachi.
“Hundreds of additional containers remain onboard ships waiting to dock at Karachi Port,” Makda said, adding that cargo already offloaded is now stuck at terminals, causing acute storage shortages.
The suspension has completely halted the movement of nearly 1,000 containers per day under the Pakistan-Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement. “Warehouses at Torkham are already filled to capacity,” he noted.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued the suspension order on Thursday, freezing all gate passes for Afghan-bound cargo from Karachi ports. Following the directive, terminal authorities began offloading Afghanistan-bound containers from trucks at the ports.
Trade and customs officials confirmed that around 500 trucks—300 at Chaman and 200 at Torkham—have been stopped, leading to long lines of stranded cargo vehicles on both sides of the border.
In Quetta, Urdu News correspondent Zainuddin reported that the Bab-e-Dosti crossing at Chaman has remained closed for six consecutive days, halting both trade and passenger movement. “Loaded and empty trucks are lined up on both sides, leaving drivers frustrated,” he added.
The Chaman Chamber of Commerce said dozens of trucks carrying edible oil, fruits, vegetables, clothing, and other goods from Pakistan to Afghanistan are stranded, while more than 200 Afghan trucks are stuck on the opposite side.
The Importers and Clearing Trade Union warned that over 130 trucks loaded with perishable fruits such as grapes and pomegranates face spoilage due to the prolonged suspension.
Traders estimate millions of rupees in losses, while customs authorities confirmed that several containers bound for Central Asian countries via Karachi are now parked near Chaman’s roadside hotels. Drivers have urged authorities to relocate cleared trucks to safer areas following recent shelling incidents that damaged multiple vehicles.
Experts warn that if the suspension continues, it could seriously disrupt bilateral trade, worsen congestion at Karachi ports, and deepen the storage crisis. The business community has called on the government to resolve the issue urgently to avert further economic losses and supply disruptions.
Read Also: Pakistan announces ceasefire following request from Taliban regime
