Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to operate a border crossing to boost trade.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to keep one of their border crossings open around the clock, starting in August, with the aim of facilitating travel and promoting trade between the two countries. Mr. Muhammad Faisal, spokesman for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, said in statements today that arrangements are being made to start operating the Torkham crossing in northwest Pakistan, around the clock, starting from August next, to facilitate the movement of goods to Afghanistan, and to promote the movement of intra-trade and the movement of citizens in both directions, pointing out Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had raised this issue during a recent visit to Islamabad. The Pakistani official stated that hundreds of citizens and commercial convoys cross from both sides of the crossing every day, noting that the border crossing is currently operating for 12 hours per day only.