ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce has expressed serious concern over the continued non-functionality of the Badini Border crossing with Afghanistan, five years after its inauguration, and directed the government to take urgent steps to operationalize the facility without further delay.
Chaired by Senator Anusha Rahman, the committee was briefed that the crossing, inaugurated in September 2020, remains inactive due to incomplete road infrastructure, lack of basic amenities, and weak coordination with Afghan authorities. Members stressed that the 40-kilometre road project must be expedited, with the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Interior, and Balochistan government working in tandem to ensure progress before a planned visit to the Afghan side later this month.
The committee also reviewed problems being faced by traders under the existing barter trade arrangement with Iran, particularly bureaucratic delays in implementing SRO 642(1)/2023. Senators emphasized that the barter system should be facilitative rather than restrictive, allowing clear business-to-business transactions while remaining compliant with international obligations.
On trade promotion mechanisms, members raised questions about the effectiveness of the 20 sector-specific export councils now functioning under TDAP. Stakeholders, particularly from Balochistan, pointed out weak infrastructure, lack of cold-chain facilities, high energy costs, and inadequate official expertise, which continue to limit Pakistan’s export potential. The committee stressed that export roadmaps should address cross-cutting supply chain challenges and called for stronger consultation with provincial chambers.
Other matters taken up included the follow-up on MoUs and protocols with foreign investors, the performance of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), and the slow progress of key energy and water projects. The committee directed the Ministry of Commerce to ensure proper monitoring, coordination with the Board of Investment, and accountability mechanisms that translate agreements into tangible trade outcomes.
The meeting was attended by Senators Amir Waliuddin Chishti, Rahat Jamali, Saleem Mandviwalla, Ahmed Khan, and Sarmad Ali, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce and other relevant departments.
