In response to the dire situation, the local community, including social circles and transporters, has called for the protest organizers to pursue their legitimate demands without entirely blocking the highway
By Mehrab Shah Afridi
LANDI KOTAL: The blockade of the main highway has triggered a critical food shortage in Landi Kotal, with essential items like vegetables, tomatoes, and fruits beginning to rot due to the ongoing disruption. Traders have attempted to mitigate losses by using smaller vehicles to transport tomatoes through alternative routes, such as Mullagori. However, this solution has not been enough to alleviate the broader impact of the blockade.
The sit-in protest at the Jamrud Bhagyari checkpoint, now in its third day, has led to severe shortages of crucial food supplies and has left passengers and patients stranded, exacerbating the situation. Local residents and transporters have expressed their frustration, highlighting the adverse effects on their daily lives. The prolonged road closure has significantly hindered the movement of goods and people between Landi Kotal and Torkham. The inability to transport perishable items such as meat, chicken, and vegetables has left the markets in Landi Kotal and its surrounding areas nearly deserted. Essential food items are running out, creating conditions akin to famine and raising concerns about a potential humanitarian crisis.
Shopkeepers in the area have reportedly increased prices in response to the shortage, further compounding the difficulties faced by residents. Transporters are enduring harsh conditions, including extreme heat and lack of food and water, as they wait under their vehicles at the blockade sites. In response to the dire situation, the local community, including social circles and transporters, has called for the protest organizers to pursue their legitimate demands without entirely blocking the highway. The blockade’s effects have been particularly harsh on patients who are unable to access medical treatment in Peshawar, raising serious concerns about human rights violations.
Residents of Landi Kotal have urged the government to engage in meaningful negotiations with the Koki Khel tribe to resolve the blockade and alleviate the suffering of the public. They have criticized the impact on ordinary citizens, traders, and transporters and emphasized the severe economic losses incurred due to the halt in business activities at the Torkham border. The situation remains critical as efforts to resolve the blockade continue, with growing calls for intervention to restore normalcy and ensure the well-being of the affected communities.
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