Afghan border crossings opened temporarily

Only Afghan citizens, and not Pakistanis, could cross border during the four-day opening

PESHAWAR: Pakistan on Monday temporarily opened the Torkham and Chaman border for four days to facilitate the return of Afghan citizens to their country.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in a meeting of task force was informed that the border crossing points at Chaman and Torkham had been opened from April 6 to April 9 at the special request of the government of Afghanistan.

According to customs officials, only Afghan citizens could cross the border whereas Pakistani citizens are not allowed to return.

Meanwhile, the bilateral trade between the two countries and NATO supply would remain suspended.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Ajmal Wazir said that Chief Minister Mehmood Khan had ordered for the provision of all facilities to the Afghan nationals amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The meeting was informed that as many as 2.2 million families of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be given Rs 12,000 each as four months relief assistance in the first phase under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme.

In the second phase, Rs6,000 payment would be given to each family as relief assistance from the provincial government. Wazir noted the chief minister had approved Rs1.2 billion special Zakat fund for 100,000 deserving families under which each family would be given Rs12,000 assistance.



Speaking about the 5,300 members of Tableeghi Jammat currently staying at the quarantine centre, he observed CM Mehmood Khan had directed that special care should be given to them.

“The chief minister has asked to ensure timely screening and testing of all the persons for coronavirus so that they could return to their homes at the earliest. Until then, all of them would be treated as guests,” he said.

“The chief minister has urged the members of Tableeghi Jamaat to adopt all precautionary measures including social distancing during their meetings and other activities,” he added.

“Out of 5,300 members, seventy percent of them are from other provinces, while 310 are foreigners.”

The chief minister asked the authorities concerned to provide protective kits to all frontline workers on priority basis and appreciated medical staff for their strenuous efforts in the war against coronavirus pandemic.

The meeting was told that after 33 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, the number of cases in K-P climbed to 405 with 16 casualties.

The meeting was attended by K-P health minister, corps commander Peshawar, chief secretary, IG police and other high officials.

With additional input from APP