The Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border in Parachinar has remained closed for the past two and a half months, bringing all trade and cross-border movement to a complete halt. 

The prolonged closure has plunged traders and daily wage workers on both sides into severe hardship, with unemployment rising sharply in the border region.

According to the district administration, the Kharlachi border was shut down due to security concerns following aggression from the Afghan side. Despite the passage of several weeks, the crossing has yet to reopen. As a result, the supply of food items and other essential goods has been disrupted, leading to a noticeable increase in prices on both sides of the border.

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Trader leader Malik Sartaj said that Kharlachi had been a vital trade route, with fruits, dry fruits and coal being imported into Pakistan from Afghanistan, while cement, livestock and daily-use items were exported to Afghanistan. 

He added that all such commercial activity has completely stopped since the closure, directly affecting the livelihoods of hundreds of families dependent on border trade.
 

The trader community has urged the government to immediately reopen the Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border for trade so that economic activities can resume and people can earn a living. 

On the other hand, the district administration says the situation is being closely monitored and a decision to reopen the border will be considered once security conditions improve.

It is worth noting that besides Kharlachi, other key Pak-Afghan border crossings, including Chaman and Torkham, are also closed, severely impacting trade and public links between the two neighboring countries.