Local officials in Paktia province say that exports worth $75 million have been made to Pakistan through the Dand-e Patan crossing in the current solar year.
According to officials, various goods, including fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, coal, medicinal herbs, and other items, were exported to Pakistan during this period.
Mohammad Azim Azimi, the head of industry and commerce in Paktia, said: “Fortunately, exports worth 75 million USD have been made through the Dand-e Patan route in Paktia province. These include various goods such as fruits, legumes, coal, medicinal herbs, and vegetables.”
Meanwhile, officials at the Paktia Chamber of Commerce and Investment say that making the Dand-e Patan route a transit corridor and providing more facilities will increase the level of exports through this crossing.
Haseebullah Gardezi, the head of the Paktia Chamber of Commerce and Investment, stated: “Export and import statistics on this route have increased. The demand of all traders in Paktia is to make this route a transit corridor.”
Khwajauddin Kalewal, the head of the Paktia Traders’ Union, said: “The only challenge we are currently facing is obtaining visas, which we cannot acquire easily to sell our goods.”
On the other hand, traders on both sides of the Durand Line say that conflicts along the line between Islamic Emirate forces and Pakistani military forces, as well as ethnic and sectarian tensions on the other side, led to the closure of the Kharlachi gate, negatively affecting trade between the two countries.
