CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) central chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Sunday said that prolonged closure of border points between Pak-Afghan was inflicting heavy financial losses on both countries and hurting livelihoods dependent on cross-border trade.
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Talking to mediapersons in the Umarzai area of Charsadda, he urged the authorities to immediately reopen all Pak-Afghan border routes to restore bilateral relations and create employment opportunities for thousands of people on both sides. He said trade and people-to-people contact were essential for regional stability and economic recovery.
Mr Sherpao said the issue of the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) could not be resolved without the full implementation of the Doha Agreement. He stressed that preventing cross-border terrorism should be the top priority for both Islamabad and Kabul, adding that pressure should be maintained on the Afghan government to take action against militant outfits without completely severing trade ties.
صوبہ خیبر پختونخواہ میں بدامنی، مہنگائی اور پی ٹی آئی کی دہائیوں پر مشتمل حکومت
وزیراعلی خیبر پختونخواہ کے دورے اور عوامی مسائل
پی آئی کی نجکاری ، سرمایہ کاری کا فقدان اور پاک افغان بارڈر کی بندش
اہم قومی امور پر میڈیا سے گفتگو#sohailafridi #KhyberPakhtunkhwa #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/Jx5ONOMLYs— Aftab Khan Sherpao (@AftabSherpao) December 28, 2025
He also called for the formulation of an effective and immediate evacuation plan for Pakistani students and businessmen currently stranded in Afghanistan. According to him, the government must ensure their safety and facilitate their return through diplomatic channels.
Expressing concern over the alleged mistreatment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi in Punjab, Mr Sherpao said inter-provincial respect and harmony were indispensable for national unity. He criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating that despite being in power for 14 years, the law and order situation remained precarious, while unemployment and inflation continued to rise.
He said instability, poverty and joblessness had made life miserable for the people due to the provincial government’s failure to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities. He added that political sit-ins and conferences had yielded no tangible results in improving peace and security.
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Mr Sherpao also termed the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) inevitable, citing billions of rupees in annual losses, and called for privatising other loss-making state-owned entities. He concluded that sustainable economic improvement was impossible without policy reforms and protection for investors.