Chaman Chamber Official Claims Containers Blocking Roads Due to Protests Causing Major Losses

Chaman:Haji Ghani Achakzai, Vice President of the Chaman-Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, has reported that police in Quetta placed containers loaded with transit trade goods in front of the Governor House to obstruct a Baloch protest rally. This action has blocked key routes and caused significant financial losses, with daily demurrage fees of $250 accruing on the containers, which are filled with medicines and food supplies.

According to Achakzai, the police have placed four Afghan transit trade containers in Quetta. Despite a letter issued by customs authorities on August 1, instructing the SSP Operations and the City Police Officer (CPO) of Quetta to release the containers, there has been no action taken to date. The letter directed the immediate dispatch of the containers, but the orders have not been implemented.

Typically, local containers are used to manage such protests, but in this case, containers involved in bilateral trade have been blocked. The blockade has caused significant financial losses and difficulties for traders. The business community has urged the Chief Minister of Balochistan and the Interior Minister to promptly remove the containers. They have warned that if the situation is not addressed soon, the trader community will be compelled to launch a strong protest.