CHAMAN (Syed Sardar Mohammad Khondai)
Central General Secretary of the Pakistan Bonded Carrier and former President of the Chaman Chamber of Commerce, Haji Jalat Khan Achakzai, has welcomed the statement of Commander 12 Corps Balochistan, Lieutenant General Inayat Hussain, regarding lasting peace in Balochistan, the elimination of gun culture and the restoration of border trade.
In his statement, Haji Jalat Khan Achakzai said that the Corps Commander’s recognition of the importance of border trade was encouraging, particularly in view of Balochistan’s ground realities and the economic difficulties faced by its people.
Haji Jalat Khan Achakzai said a significant portion of the economy in Balochistan, particularly in border districts, depended on cross-border trade. Thousands of families directly or indirectly relied on these commercial activities for their livelihoods.
He explained that traders, transporters, drivers, labourers, shopkeepers and small business owners all depended on border trade to support their families.
He added that the closure of border routes affected far more than the movement of commercial vehicles. It disrupted businesses, increased unemployment and left thousands of families struggling to meet their daily expenses.
Haji Jalat Khan Achakzai emphasized that national security and border trade were not contradictory objectives and could be achieved simultaneously through effective administrative arrangements.
He said that concerns involving smuggling, illegal movement and security should not result in the complete closure of commercial activities. Instead, authorities should address these challenges through effective border management, transparent customs procedures, trader registration, proper legal documentation and modern monitoring systems.
He noted that several countries around the world maintained both security and commercial activities through organized administrative and monitoring mechanisms.
The former Chaman Chamber of Commerce president called for the phased and permanent reopening of all legal trade routes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan and Pakistan-Iran borders.
He also demanded a clear, uniform and transparent border trade policy to provide certainty to traders and local communities.
Haji Jalat Khan Achakzai said that people living in border districts should not face repeated uncertainty because of frequent trade closures.
He stressed that restoring legal border trade would help revive economic activities, create employment opportunities and improve the living conditions of thousands of families across Balochistan.
He expressed hope that the authorities would take practical steps to translate the Corps Commander’s statement into effective policies that promote lasting peace, economic stability and prosperity in the province.
