Sugar export to Afghanistan resumes after four years

Sugar export to Afghanistan has resumed after a four-year suspension, with over 400 vehicles crossing the Torkham border in the last four days. According to sources, Pakistan recently allowed the export of 150,000 tons of sugar to Afghanistan, setting the August 15 deadline for the completion of the shipment process. Customs clearing agents at Torkham told Dawn that around 100 vehicles, each carrying 33 tons of sugar, crossed into Afghanistan four days ago and more thereafter. The government slapped the sugar export ban four years ago to address shortages and control prices in the country, according to officials. The administration of the Khyber tribal district, along with the police, has established a number of checkposts along the Peshawar-Torkham Highway to prevent sugar smuggling. It seized a large quantity of sugar from warehouses in Torkham and Landi Kotal and arrested many sugar smugglers after the ban was imposed.