Locals suffer due to prolonged closure of trade gate

Govt urged to resume business activities to alleviate people’s hardships

The suspension of bilateral business activities at the Trade Gate Zero Point on the Pak-Iran border continues causing massive suffering to locals of the area.

The closure of Zero Point has led to a shortage of food items in the area. Laborers, shopkeepers, including the business community, have been forced to return back to their homes.

Majority of the local population has been forced to move to other cities in search of employment.

Vegetable sellers, garage owners, hotel staff, transporters, bakers and other shopkeepers are badly affected by the continuous closure of Zero Point.

Locals of the area and political party workers had also recorded their protest but so far there is no sign of resumption of business activities.

The local administration is also making efforts at the government level to open Zero Point. Talks were held with Iranian officials and the concerns and plight of the businessmen was relayed.

Sardar Rafiq Sher Sanjarani Baloch, Provincial Labour Secretary of the National Party, said that the closure of Zero Point affected ordinary citizens, including business circles in four districts.

“People here make a living by pursuing small businesses that enable them to earn daily wages but the closure of Zero Point for the last four months has led to a huge increase in the unemployment rate of the area and people are in dire need of jobs” he said.

The provincial labour secretary added that the locals of the area and other businessmen did not want to pursue the path of protests to pressurise the government to open the Zero Point trade gate.

He urged the Balochistan Awami Party led provincial government to look into the matter urgently as the well-being of many people was at stake.

Baloch highlighted how the prevailing coronavirus had already affected the people who earn daily wages and now the trade gate closure.

Residents and shopkeepers demanded the Iranian and Pakistani authorities to play a constructive role in resuming business activities at Zero Point and alleviate the hardships faced by the people.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2020.