KARACHI — Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has come to a grinding halt amid rising tensions between the two neighbors, leaving hundreds of transit containers stranded at ports and border crossings for the fifth consecutive day. The disruption has already cost traders on both sides over Rs1 billion in daily losses, according to industry officials.
Junaid Makda, President of the Pak-Afghan Chamber of Commerce, told reporters that nearly 1,391 Afghan transit containers are currently stuck at various points, including Karachi Port, Port Qasim, Chaman, Torkham, Ghulam Khan, and Kharlachi. He said the suspension of operations has paralyzed trade that typically handles around 1,000 containers daily.
“The entire supply chain is choking,” Makda said. “Warehouses at Torkham are packed, and goods offloaded from ships at Karachi ports are piling up with no space left for new cargo.”
He added that 500 containers are stranded at Chaman, 400 at Torkham, and 100 each at Ghulam Khan and Kharlachi, while 291 containers remain stuck at Karachi’s seaports. The delays have not only jammed up terminals but also left traders struggling to manage perishable goods, some of which are now being sold at half price to minimize losses.
According to estimates shared by the Chamber, traders have collectively lost billions of rupees in just a few days. “The financial damage is enormous. Both Pakistani and Afghan traders are suffering heavily due to this continued closure,” Makda said.
The affected consignments include electronics, machinery, chocolates, confectionery, and other consumer goods imported under the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA). Customs officials warned that shipping schedules are being disrupted as containers remain uncleared, leaving little room for new imports.
Trade experts fear that if the border closures continue, it could lead to a deeper supply chain crisis, rising import costs, and further strain on the already fragile trade relations between Islamabad and Kabul.
“The transit trade is a lifeline for regional commerce. Its suspension doesn’t just hurt big businesses small traders, truckers, and logistics companies are also bleeding losses,” said one trade analyst.
Meanwhile, both the Torkham and Chaman border crossings remain closed for a fifth straight day. Thousands of trucks loaded with goods are lined up on both sides, with perishable items like fruits and vegetables at risk of rotting due to the delay.
On an average day, over 2,000 cargo trucks and 10,000 people cross the Torkham border. But for nearly a week now, that activity has come to a complete standstill.
Jamal Shah Achakzai, a senior member of the Chamber of Commerce, urged both governments to intervene immediately. “The longer this continues, the greater the damage to livelihoods and trade confidence,” he warned. “Pakistan and Afghanistan must reopen the borders before the situation spirals further out of control.”
