Daily Times

KHYBER AGENCY: The transporter community of Pakistan and Afghanistan observed a wheel-jam strike on both sides of the Torkham border on Tuesday against what they said illicit taxes, charged by the authorities of both countries on the border.

The strike resulted in a complete halt to the transportation of goods between the two countries as hundreds of long-vehicles, loaded with various goods remained stationary for the day. The representatives of transporters were on the view that Afghan border security officials collected five thousand Afghanis as land tax in addition with money grabbing from them at scores of checkpoints in Afghanistan. Similarly they added, the Pak officials only from Karkhano markets to Torkham border snatched Rs 17000 from each trucks which was injustice to them.

All Pakistan Transport Union President Shakir Afridi told Daily Times that both the neighbouring countries had billions of rupees trade that had provided jobs to thousands of peoples on the both sides of the border but ironically, the truckers who transported the merchandise commodities had been fleecing with their both hands by the Pak and Afghan officials from Karachi to Kabul. He stressed upon the Pak-Afghan authorities to initiate positive steps in that regards to further boost business ties of the two countries.

The transport communities threatened that if their grievance was not redress forthwith that would announce suspension of transporting of goods on both sides for indefinite period.

Pakistani Border Authorities set up medical referral point at Torkham: As a goodwill gesture, Pakistani Border Authorities established a medical referral point at Torkham to facilitate patients coming from Afghanistan for medical treatment in different hospitals in Pakistan.

Political tehsildar Torkham, Shamsul Islam told reporters that on the directive of high ups they established a medical check point being run by two medical doctors. He said those Afghan patients coming from Afghanistan for medical treatment would be facilitated at Torkham border.

He said traveling documents of Afghan patients would be checked at Torkham border before they could be referred to different private and public hospitals in Pakistan. He said it was decided that patients with serious sickness would be exempted of traveling documents.

The official said that around 50 Afghan patients are being checked at the medical checking point and were referred to specific doctors for best possible medical treatment.

Shams said they were also taking approval to provide first aid facilities to the Afghan patients before they could safely take patients to hospitals in Pakistan. He said all the patients would require getting examination at the medical point before they travel to the other cities.