Pak-Afghan trade group welcomes re-export of stranded Afghan cargo

The Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) has welcomed a policy decision by Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce allowing the re-export of stranded Afghan transit trade cargo from Pakistani ports and border crossing points, calling it a major relief for the trade community.

The decision follows a high-level meeting held on January 10, 2026, at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), chaired by Zubair Motiwala and attended by Secretary Commerce Jawad Paul. During the meeting, PAJCCI President Junaid Makda raised longstanding concerns about transit containers that have been stuck at seaports and border crossings due to the prolonged closure of the Pak-Afghan border.

Makda highlighted the severe congestion at ports, escalating demurrage charges, and the financial strain on importers, clearing agents, and transporters. He urged authorities to adopt an exceptional and facilitative approach, noting that routine transit procedures were insufficient to resolve the crisis.

Following these representations and ongoing follow-up by PAJCCI, the Ministry of Commerce issued a notification on January 12, 2026, permitting the re-export of all stranded Afghan transit cargo from Karachi, Gwadar and designated Border Crossing Points (BCPs).

In parallel, Makda has been engaging with the Directorate General of Transit Trade (DGTT), South Asia Pakistan Terminals (SAPT), and other port and terminal operators through formal representations to seek waivers and rationalization of detention and demurrage charges. PAJCCI said these coordinated efforts aim to ensure that the policy decision translates into practical relief on the ground, allowing cargo to be cleared and re-exported efficiently.

The chamber praised Secretary Commerce Jawad Paul and the Ministry of Commerce for their prompt response and pragmatic approach, saying that institutional coordination and stakeholder engagement strengthen confidence in public-private collaboration to resolve complex transit trade challenges.