Northwest Pakistani traders oppose giving trade route to India

Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has opposed grant of access given to Afghan truckers to the Indian border in Waga and the Karachi port under the new Afghan Transit Trade agreement.

The SCCI executive members meeting under their president Riaz Arshad in a resolution called upon the government to deny access to the Afghan truckers to Karachi Port as well as the Waga Border.

They say this step will be disastrous for the economy of the war-hit NWFP province which reeling under militancy and terrorism and it will deprive the Pakistan Railways as well as the NWFP of its revenue resources.

The SCCI also demanded inclusion of Peshawar in Category-A of the war affected areas of NWFP in the financial package announced by the federal government.

They also demanded the provision of facilities to the Peshawar traders on the pattern of FATA and waiving off of loans upto one million rupees.

The SCCI members also demanded of the federal government and the finance ministry to solve the problems of the small traders of the province and extend them the facilities promised by the federal finance minister.

- Asian Tribune -