PESHAWAR : The importers and exporters of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have expressed deep concern over the alleged harassment of drivers carrying non-Afghan transit consignments by protesting workers during their ongoing sit-in against drone strikes and Nato supplies. This concern was shown by Pak-Afghan Dosti Importers and Exporters Association KPK Chairman Niaz Muhammad, and Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Importers, Exporters’ Association KPK Chairman, Aftab Alam, during a joint press conference held here at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday.  Niaz said that about 50 per cent of their trucks loaded with vegetable and fruits being exported to Afghanistan were diverted through Balochistan route.
He explained that they were supplying only non-Afghan transit cargo, carrying food commodities like rice, ghee, wheat flour, onion, tomato, orange, banana, and other fruits, but despite that drivers were being harassed by the workers of PTI and other protesting parties, during their ongoing sit-in, he added. He also said that the attitude of protesters towards drivers was totally unjustifiable and unacceptable.
“Our drivers agree to show exports documents of food commodities being supplied to neighbouring Afghanistan, but the impolite attitude and harassment of drivers would compel them to stop this practice that will result in unemployment and affect exports,” he maintained.
Besides, he also said informed that about 450 consignments of fruits and vegetable items were exported to Afghanistan on daily basis during off-reason, while in reason this number reaches to 12,000, but now only 50 to 100 carriers of food commodities were being supplied.
Currently, he said, Pak-Afghan export target was around $2billion, which would be hardly achievable, as export was declined at $100million due to current hindrance and trade-barriers in way of export to neighbouring countries.