MIRAMSHAH: North Waziristan Agency political agent Kamran Afridi has said that the Ghulam Khan border crossing point with Afghanistan would be reopened after Eidul Fitr for bilateral trade.

Talking to journalists in Miramshah on Monday, he said that reopening of the crossing point would generate employment opportunities in the area. He said that problems of local business community would be resolved on priority basis.

He said the local administration was finalising all arrangements for reopening of the checkpost, where traders and truckers would be provided required facilities.

It is worth mentioning that Ghulam Khan crossing was closed for trade and pedestrians’ movement when army launched operation Zarb-i-Azb in June 2014. All trade activities with Afghanistan were shifted from North Waziristan to Kurram Agency.

PA Kamran Afridi said that the government was also focusing on resolving problems of the repatriated internally displaced persons. He said reconstruction and rehabilitation of various sectors, especially health, education and water supply, was underway.

He said repatriation of IDPs was in progress and the return process would be completed soon.

Over one million people became displaced from North Waziristan Agency in the wake of operation Zarb-i-Azb.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2017