…The Tribal Affairs ministry was closed after Emarat-e-Islami takeover of Afghanistan
PESHAWAR: A delegation of Shinwari elders, elected members and traders met with Afghan council general here in Peshawar and condoled over the tragic death of eight Afghan truckers who had lost their lives in Torkham landsliding last week.
The delegation, led by Tehsil Chairman Shah Khalid Shinwari,also discussed various Torkham border and trade issues with the Afghan envoy Hafiz Muhibullah.
Promenent Khugakhel Shinwari figured including Malik Tajudddin Shinwari,Haji Wakeel Shinwari,Najeeb Shinwari,Zakir Shinwari and Manzoor Shinwari were also part of the delegation.
Tehsil Chairman Shah Khalid formally condoled over the sad demise of eight Afghan citizens who lost their lives in Torkham landsliding incident last week. They also offered prayers for the departed souls of Torkham incident.
Tehsil chairman Shah Khalid told The News on Friday that they requested the Emarat-e-Islami government in Afghanistan to resume the “Tribal Affairs ministry” which was closed after Emarat-e-Islami takeover on Afghanistan.He said scholarships quota for Pakistanis in medical and engineering universities in Afghanistan was suspended by Taliban after their control over Afghanistan. He said a large number of ex-Fata and students from the other parts of Pakistan were enrolled in medical and engineering universities in Afghanistan before Taliban government. Shah Khalid said they demanded of the Afghan envoy to take up the suspended scholarships issues with Kabul so that Pakistani citizens who want to persue their education in Afghanistan could get benefit of it.
The Afghan council general was told that Pakistan and Afghanistan governments had to compensate the million of rupees losses and announce support packages for the families of drives and their helpers who died in the incident.
They also urged the Afghan council general to raise the issue of free movement of Pakistani and Afghan citizens live near the Torkham border on both sides.
Shah Khalid Shinwari said Pakistan should withraw the visa condition for tribals to travel to Afghanistan. He said visa on arrival for Afghan citizens at Torkham border could overcome from the constraint of rush of people who wait for hours to get clear their travel documents and proceed towards their distinations.
Wakeel Shinwari,who was also in the delegation, told The News that they stressed upon the free trade acitivies via Torkham border. He said they told the Afghan council general that both Pakistan and Afghanistan must take steps to bring an ease for traders and transporters. He said they also demanded to reopen the markets closed at Torkham border when the construction of Torkham terminal started years before.
Afghan council general Hafiz Muhibullah thanked tribal elders,elected members and traders for their condolance and assured them to take up their demands with Emarat-e-Islami leaders in Kabul.
