Imports of coal and soft stone from Afghanistan were suspended at Pakistan’s Torkham, Ghulam Khan, and Kharlachi border crossings after customs officials made clearance conditional on the submission of a “Certificate of Country of Origin,” traders reported.
Importers told the media that the clearance process was abruptly halted on Sunday. By Monday morning, they were informed that customs clearance would now require a country of origin certificate for the imported goods.
As a result of the sudden suspension, hundreds of trucks loaded with coal and soft stone are now stranded on the Afghan side of the border, traders said. The unexpected requirement has caused what they described as “minor chaos” among importers and transporters just days ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, as many had planned to complete clearances and go on holiday.
Mujeebullah Shinwari, president of the Torkham Customs Clearing Agents Association, said efforts were underway to secure a one-time clearance approval from high-level officials in Islamabad for the already arrived goods, in hopes of providing some relief to traders and transporters before Eid.
According to Shinwari, customs officials fear that goods from countries other than Afghanistan might be entering Pakistan under the guise of Afghan imports, prompting the insistence on stricter documentation. He noted that discussions regarding the issuance of required documents from Afghan authorities had taken place in the past, but technical issues related to weight, pricing, and import verification had arisen.
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Shinwari maintained that there is no irregularity in the coal and soft stone imports, which are sourced from various regions of Afghanistan, with documented evidence provided to customs authorities on multiple occasions.
He added that formal requests have been sent to relevant officials in Peshawar, Islamabad, and Kabul to seek the temporary resumption of imports, and he remains hopeful that a positive decision will be announced ahead of Eid.
Meanwhile, coal importer Jamshed Khan told the media that before the suspension, approximately 300 to 350 coal-loaded and 100 to 150 soft stone-loaded trucks entered Pakistan daily through Torkham, Ghulam Khan, and Kharlachi crossings.
He explained that the imported coal is transported to various industrial cities in Punjab, where it is used in different industries, while the soft stone is sent to Karachi for onward export to other countries.
06 Jun, 2025
