ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has begun clearing humanitarian consignments destined for Afghanistan, marking the first controlled reopening of cross-border transit since all routine trade was halted nearly two months ago.
Customs clearance for exports, imports and Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) cargo had been fully suspended at major border crossings — including Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, Angoor Adda and later Chaman — following orders issued on Oct 12 and Oct 15. The move had left hundreds of trucks stranded on both sides of the border.
According to an official communication sent to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Directorate General of Transit Trade, the government has now authorised the movement of consignments belonging to three United Nations agencies through the Chaman and Torkham crossings.
In the first phase, 143 containers of humanitarian goods will be cleared. These include 67 containers of food assistance from the World Food Programme (WFP), 74 containers of children’s supplies from Unicef, and two containers of healthcare and family-support items from UNFPA.
Officials said the decision followed directions issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after consultations with the UN resident coordinator in Pakistan. The letter outlines a three-stage cargo movement plan: food shipments first, followed by medicine and medical equipment, and finally supplies for education services. Additional consignments are expected once documentation is finalised.
The FBR and the transit trade directorate have been instructed to complete all necessary procedures to ensure the onward transportation of these containers under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement and ATT rules.
Border-point workers and drivers in Chaman and Torkham had faced lengthy periods of inactivity, with hundreds of vehicles parked for weeks during the closure. Officials emphasised that the clearance applies strictly to humanitarian ATT shipments and does not signal the resumption of routine trade.
As of the latest assessment, around 495 vehicles remain queued at the two crossings — 412 at Chaman and 83 at Torkham. For FY2024–25, Pakistan recorded transit trade imports worth $1.012 billion, covering 42,959 containers.
