{
  "id": 2457851,
  "title": "Afghan border closure inflicts USD4.5bn loss on Pak exporters: report",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/afghan-border-closure-inflicts-usd4-5bn-loss-on-pak-exporters-report",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-21T23:59:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40436004/afghan-border-closure-inflicts-usd45bn-loss-on-pak-exporters-report"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The closure of the Pak-Afghan border since mid-October 2025 has inflicted losses of approximately USD4.5 billion on Pakistani exporters, according to a report by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE). This decline has been attributed to a 28 percent decrease in bilateral trade, which dropped from USD2.46 billion in 2024 to USD1.77 billion in 2025. On average, the country's exports have suffered a monthly loss of USD177 million since the border closure, representing a 56 percent decrease as of early 2026. The report, titled \"Policy Challenges for Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations,\" highlights that logistical costs now surpass the value of the goods themselves. This includes expenses such as container rent, fuel for refrigerated trucks, and demurrage and detention fees, which range from USD150 to USD200 per container daily. The Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCC) estimates a monthly loss of PKR 50 billion, equivalent to about USD6 million per day, due to the backlog of 10,000-12,000 containers at the main borders during January and February 2026. The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Corridor Performance Measurement and Monitoring (CPMM) framework also reports that Torkham and Chaman border crossing points are particularly time-consuming, with structural bottlenecks, complex anti-smuggling checks, and poor infrastructure further driving up clearance costs. These challenges have been derived from various sources, including government data, industry associations, and media reports, indicating indicative estimates rather than independently verified loss figures. The report emphasizes that the Pak-Afghan trade corridor, which historically facilitated the exchange of perishable goods like fruits and vegetables between producers, traders, and consumers, has been significantly disrupted by recurring border closures due to security concerns and geopolitical tensions. The high perishability of these goods means that even brief delays result in substantial spoilage, income losses, and market distortions. Such disruptions not only impact bilateral trade volumes but also cause price volatility, supply-demand imbalances, and uncertainty in domestic markets, with broader economic implications.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: The closure of the Pak-Afghan border since mid-October 2025 has caused losses of USD 4.5 billion to Pakistani exporters, according to a report by a leading research institute. The report, titled ‘Policy Challenges for Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations’ and authored by Farah Naz and Anjeela Khurram of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), said the border closure had…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}