LANDI KOTAL, Dec 28: Suspension of truck supplies to Nato forces in Afghanistan via Pakistan may have angered Nato members but it has certainly brought relief and safety to the motorists using the 35-kilometres long Peshawar-Torkham Road.

Drivers of private cars and public transport and carriages interviewed by Dawn in the border town of Torkham and Peshawar's Karkhano market said chaos and insecurity on the Peshawar-Torkham Road had considerably eased since November 26.

On that date, more than 500 Nato trailers and oil tankers were taken off the artery in retaliation of the Nato attack on two Pakistan army checkposts in Mohmand Agency which killed 24 soldiers and officers.

Fazal Ghani, a cabbie in Torkham, said traveling had become less time-consuming and safer since November 26.

“We used to face prolonged blockade on the Torkham border and in Karkhano market due to heavy traffic, especially those of trailers and oil tankers bound for Afghanistan. But now, we travel from Peshawar to Torkham and back almost twice a day due to smooth traffic flow,” he said.

Mohammad Ishaq, another taxi driver, said before suspension of Nato supplies, khasadar personnel used to force transporters, especially cabbies, them into parking their vehicles alongside the Peshawar-Torkham Road for hours to ensure that the convoy of Nato vehicles make their way to the border without trouble.

The situation, he said, always left commuters at the receiving end as they had to wait for hours inside public transport.

“It would take us almost six hours for a round trip but now, it has reduced to just three hours,” he said.

Most cabbies said passenger coaches benefited the most from the suspension of Nato supplies as most people preferred to travel by them.

“Traveling has become faster,” he said, adding that people preferred coaches leading to Torkham from Peshawar as they charged more than half of the fare charged by cabbies.

Dilawar Khan, contractor of taxi stand in Torkham, said a passenger traveling between Peshawar and Torkham paid Rs400 to cabbie and Rs130 to coach owner.

Ehsanullah Sadokhel, a public transport driver, said the Peshawar-Torkham Road users had become safer as no Nato vehicle had been torched or bombed since November 26. He said one of his cabbie friends died and his taxi burnt down after a Nato oil tanker close at hand was bombed near Landi Kotal Bazaar of late.

“Passengers used to feel insecure and kept asking drivers to keep a reasonable distance from Nato vehicles, especially oil tankers, plying the road”, he said.

Suspension of Nato supplies has also benefited businessmen previously stressed out by late arrival of goods.

Wajid Khan, a dealer of electronic appliances in Karkhano Market, said frequent closure of the Peshawar-Torkham Road and insecurity on it had a negative bearing on his business.

“Never before the suspension of supplies had we reached our shop in Karkhano Market on time as road blockade and terrorist attacks were the order of the day but now, our businesses have a visible boost as we reach and leave on time,” said he.

After November 26, speedy clearance of Pakistani goods on Torkham border have been witnessed due to a considerable reduction of workload at the customs offices after ban on Nato supplies.

Nasir Khan, an exporter, said the customs officials cleared goods on Torkham by midday.

“Previously, our vehicles sometimes loaded with perishable items had to wait for two days due to rush on the border caused by presence of a large number of Nato vehicles but now, they take six hours only to reach the border from Peshawar and cross over to Afghanistan after clearance,” he said.

Most truckers and motorists complained about the bad condition of the Peshawar-Torkham Road and demanded its immediate repair and expansion for smooth flow of traffic.

They said the road was badly damaged by hundreds of Nato vehicles plying on it, adding that heavy traffic also inconvenienced public and private vehicles.

Abbas Khan, driver of a coach, said even a brand new vehicle would require major repair and constant maintenance after using the decaying road. He demanded that the National Highway Authority repair the road, which, he said, was lifeline for thousands of its users, especially transporters.