APCEA Urges Cess Withdrawal and Torkham Reopening to Revive Afghan Trade

The All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association, APCEA, has formally demanded the withdrawal of a one percent export cess and the immediate reopening of the Torkham border crossing, warning that continued restrictions are inflicting severe damage on Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral trade and the livelihoods of thousands of traders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

APCEA representatives described the one percent cess imposed on exports as an unnecessary financial burden that compounds existing challenges in accessing the Afghan market, where Pakistani goods compete against Iranian and Central Asian alternatives that face no equivalent levies. The association argued that the cess effectively prices Pakistani exporters out of a market they have historically dominated.

The Torkham border, a primary artery for overland trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has remained under restricted operation, causing backlogs and driving up costs for goods ranging from food commodities to industrial inputs. Traders argue that prolonged closure or restricted access disproportionately harms small and medium enterprises that lack the capital reserves to sustain prolonged disruptions.

APCEA called on the federal government and relevant ministries to engage constructively with exporters and issue a clear policy framework addressing both the cess and border access. The association indicated it would escalate its demands through formal channels if no corrective action was forthcoming within a reasonable timeframe.