KARACHI: Thousands of containers carrying goods worth millions of rupees stranded at Karachi ports and border crossings after Pakistan has suspended Afghan transit trade indefinitely amid escalating border tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
According to Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Junaid Makda, at least 291 Afghan containers are currently stuck at Karachi Port and Port Qasim, while 500 are held up at Chaman, 400 at Torkham, 100 at Ghulam Khan, and another 100 at Kharlachi.
“Hundreds of other containers are still onboard ships waiting to dock at Karachi Port,” Makda said, adding that “cargo already offloaded is now stuck at terminals, leading to a severe storage shortage.”
The suspension has brought a complete halt to the daily movement of nearly 1,000 containers between Pakistan and Afghanistan under the transit trade agreement. “Warehouses at Torkham are already filled to capacity,” he said.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) ordered the halt on Thursday, suspending all gate passes for Afghan transit trade from Karachi ports. Following the directive, terminal authorities immediately offloaded Afghanistan-bound containers from transport vehicles.
Customs and trade officials confirmed that around 500 trucks — 300 at Chaman and 200 at Torkham — have also been stopped, creating long queues of stranded cargo trucks on both sides of the border.
In Quetta, Urdu News correspondent Zainuddin reported that the Bab-e-Dosti border crossing in Chaman remained closed for the sixth consecutive day due to Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions, suspending all trade and passenger movement. “Loaded and empty trucks are lined up on both sides of the border, leaving drivers frustrated,” he said.
According to the Chaman Chamber of Commerce, dozens of trucks carrying edible oil, fruits, vegetables, clothing, and other essential items from Pakistan to Afghanistan are stranded, while more than 200 Afghan trucks remain stuck on the opposite side.
Representatives of the Importers and Clearing Trade Union warned that at least 130 trucks loaded with perishable fruits such as grapes and pomegranates are at risk of spoilage due to the prolonged delay.
Traders estimate millions of rupees in losses so far, while customs authorities confirmed that several containers bound for Central Asian countries via Karachi are now parked at roadside hotels near Chaman.
Drivers have urged authorities to move cleared trucks to safer locations, citing recent shelling incidents that damaged multiple vehicles on Thursday.
Trade experts and customs agents warned that the continued suspension could severely impact bilateral trade, exacerbate port congestion, and lead to a worsening storage crisis in Karachi.
The business community has appealed to the government to resolve the issue swiftly to prevent further economic losses, logistical bottlenecks, and potential shortages of essential goods.