Transporters to Hold Wheel-Jam Strike at Torkham Border in Protest of TED Policy
(BY AMAN SHINWARI)
Khyber, August 11 – A significant protest and wheel-jam strike have been announced for Monday at the Pak-Afghan Torkham border, as tensions escalate over the recently implemented TED (Transportation and Export Documentation) policy. Goods transporters have been advised to halt all loading activities, with a complete blockade of supplies planned at the border crossing.
The trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has come to a virtual standstill, with the TED policy being blamed for the severe disruption. Transporters are demanding that vehicles be allowed to cross the border on a temporary token basis until a more permanent solution is found.
During a rally held near the zero point at the Torkham border, prominent leaders from the All Torkham Customs Clearing Agents Association, including Chairman Mairajuddin Shinwari, President Imal Shinwari, Mujeeb Shinwari, and transport union leaders Yousaf Afridi, Iqbal, Jahanzeb Afridi, and Mustaqim Afridi, addressed the gathered protesters. They highlighted the drastic decline in the number of goods transport vehicles crossing the border daily—from around 2,000 to just 200—due to the strict enforcement of the TED policy.
The protesters put forward five key proposals for the immediate revision of the TED policy, urging the authorities to consider these to prevent further disruption of bilateral trade and alleviate the hardships faced by transporters. They also expressed concerns over the alleged mistreatment of traders and transporters at the border, calling for fair and respectful treatment of all parties involved in cross-border trade.
As tensions continue to rise, the upcoming strike is expected to have significant implications for the region’s trade and economy.
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