Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Speaking at press conference here at the Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday chairman trade union, export and import Haji Abdul Sattar Khan epi has demanded from prime minister, army chief, governor kpk for opening of Ghulam Khan route a major trade artery which connects Pakistan with Afghanistan at North Waziristan area.

He said that owing to growing militarism and resultant military operation code named operation zarb aazb in the area in recent past has resulted into closure of this route and thus closure of economic activity.

He added that since three years economic activities has been paralyzed on this route which caused hefty economic loss worth millions to the national exchequer in terms of different custom duties on daily basis.

Flanked by munir ahmad epi president import and export, general secretary malik naveed sher ,naseem ullah chief organizer youth of Waziristan and other rank and file persons , he said that Ghulam khan route is the shortest available route for economic activity which reduces the distance more than 800 kilometer as compared to Torkham border and hence saves 1lac fifty thousand rupees on single trip.

He added that traders suffered a lot due to the closure of this route as daily transaction of goods include import and export of perishable goods, non perishable goods and other grocery items can not be processed.

He estimated that one and half billion rupees loss has been incurred till now on the part of traders.

Meanwhile he demanded compensation on demolished houses that were rubbled during operation zarb azab intrest, free loan schemes for FATA peoples and prime minister special package for FATA.