The Torkham border has faced repeated closures and disruptions to trade over the past 10 months, pushing the economies of Landi Kotal and Torkham into a severe crisis. The suspension of cross-border trade has brought commercial activity to a near standstill, with Landi Kotal Bazaar and Torkham Market largely deserted. The prolonged closures have also deprived the national exchequer of billions of rupees in customs revenue.

Local trader Mian Aman said the market has seen almost no customers since the border closures began. He noted that both local residents and Afghan buyers previously shopped in the area, but now many shops close during the day due to a lack of business.

Wholesale trader Rehman Ali said the suspension of cross-border trade has significantly reduced sales. He added that the halt in trade with Afghanistan has caused traders to suffer losses worth millions of rupees and severely affected commercial activity.

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Restaurant owner Zulfiqar Shinwari said his business has also been hit hard. He explained that his restaurant once served large numbers of customers and several sheep were slaughtered daily, but now even selling the meat from two or three sheep has become difficult due to the sharp decline in customers. He added that the suspension of livestock imports from Afghanistan has driven up mutton prices, further affecting the business.

According to local traders, around 2,500 daily wage workers have lost their jobs due to the border closures, while nearly 3,000 taxi drivers have also been left without work. They said the closure of Landi Kotal Bazaar and Torkham Market has pushed thousands of families into financial hardship.

The traders have urged the government to reopen the Torkham border on a permanent basis to restore Pakistan-Afghanistan trade, revive employment for thousands of people, support the local economy, and prevent further losses of billions of rupees in government revenue.