More than 1,200 containers carrying Afghan commercial goods are currently stranded at Pakistan’s Karachi port.
The Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce reports that these containers, primarily loaded with imported food items such as sugar and cooking oil, have been halted due to delays in cargo inspections and vehicle movements.
Khan Jan Alokozai, chairman of the Joint Chamber, stated: “We are facing a serious problem at Karachi port, where over 1,200 containers of food items, especially sugar and oil, are stuck. We urge the Pakistani government to expedite the inspection process as promised by their Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
The situation has been exacerbated by recent tensions between India and Pakistan, as well as increased traffic resulting from the conflict between Iran and Israel, leading to slower processing of cargo trucks en route from Karachi. This has raised fresh concerns among Afghan traders.
Zalmai Azimi, an Afghan businessman, noted: “Pakistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce has imposed several restrictions on Afghan transit goods. Previously, inspections ranged from 5% to 10%, but now they have increased to 30% to 100%. As a result, thousands of containers are stuck at Karachi port, including 1,000 to 1,500 containers of food items, with the remainder being miscellaneous goods.”
In addition to these challenges, the Pakistani government has announced that after June 30, Afghan drivers will only be allowed entry into Pakistan with valid visas and passports. Some Afghan traders view this decision as a significant obstacle to their business operations.
In recent years, political tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have led to a decline in trade relations between the two countries. Economic experts have consistently emphasized the need for Afghanistan to develop alternative markets to reduce its dependence on a single trade route.
