TAFTAN: The business community obs­e­rved a strike in Taftan on Wednesday aga­­inst prolonged closure of tax-free trade corridor and travelling gate for the area people.

All shops and markets remained closed on the call of All Parties Action Committee (APAC), Taftan.

Talking to journalists, APAC leaders Molvi Najeebullah, Haji Qadir Bakhsh Notezai, Haji Khuda-i-Nazar Muhammad Hasni and others said that tax-free trade corridor Zero Point had been closed for almost four months without any valid reason while Bazarcha had also been closed recently.

They said that it was injustice and economic murder of the people living on both sides of the border in Pakistan and Iran as livelihood of traders and people of the area depended on it.

Traders claim corridor has been lying closed for four months without valid reason

Besides, they said, the local people could not visit their loved-ones in Iran and Pakistan on 15 days permit as Rahdari Gate had also been closed.

They also criticised suspension of immigration clearance in Taftan border and urged authorities concerned to reconsider their decisions which were making the people’s lives miserable.

They announced that they would block the RCD Highway near Saindak Cross in Taftan from Thursday till the acceptance of their demands.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2021