Pakistani MP Assad Qaiser Warns of Peshawar Crisis Over Closed Trade Routes with Afghanistan
Assad Qaiser, a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly, has warned that the continued closure of trade routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan is pushing Peshawar’s economy and industry toward a serious crisis. Speaking at a session of the National Assembly, he emphasized that Afghanistan remains the only viable option for industrial development in Peshawar, and current restrictions are directly pressuring local traders and residents.
Qaiser criticized the Pakistani government’s trade policies, pointing out that while cities like Lahore and Karachi are currently trading with India, Peshawar is not allowed to engage in trade with Afghanistan. According to him, this approach represents a form of double standards that limits the region’s economic opportunities.
The National Assembly member also stressed the need to separate political disputes from economic issues and called on Kabul and Islamabad to resolve existing tensions through diplomatic means. He noted that the continuation of the current situation could have broader consequences for the economic stability of the border regions.
