Yadullah Shinwari, President of the Landi Kotal Bazaar, said the closure of Torkham Gate has crippled local commerce.“Earlier, every shopkeeper earned up to Rs30,000 daily. Now sales barely reach Rs1,000 to Rs2,000,” he said, adding that most residents relied on Torkham for daily livelihood, and the prolonged closure has pushed many to the brink of starvation.

Zakir Shinwari, President of the Torkham Labour Union, warned that the shutdown may force unemployed youth toward criminal networks. He said 1,500 card-holding labourers have been directly affected, while total affected individuals have reached nearly 3,000. Hundreds of hotel workers, transport staff and service-sector employees have also lost their income.

Mujeeb Shinwari, President of the All Customs Clearing Agents, said 150 registered offices and more than 800 agents working at Torkham have been hit hard. Pakistan is suffering daily export losses of USD 1.5 to 2 million, while import losses exceed Rs550 million per day.

Previously, over 700 vehicles crossed the border daily. Now, thousands of loaded trucks - including those carrying perishable fruits and vegetables - remain stuck, driving up food prices in Pakistan. Border authorities said more than 10,000 people and over 500 vehicles crossed Torkham every day, but the flow has now come to a complete halt.

Trader groups noted that industries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were already struggling due to insecurity and militancy, and the halt in cross-border trade has further aggravated the crisis, raising fears of widespread unemployment.

Newly elected Chief Minister Suhail Afridi stressed the need for the federal government to adopt a joint strategy to stabilise Afghan relations and address security challenges in the tribal districts.

Trader and labour leaders from the region have urged both countries to resolve border issues through dialogue and to immediately reopen Torkham and all other crossings to stop the worsening economic decline.