The Khyber Pass Economic Corridor (KPEC), under the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) of the Planning & Development Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, organized a day-long validation workshop on the “Establishment of Border Bazaar” at Torkham.

The workshop was attended by representatives of local and provincial chambers of commerce & industry, including the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber, trade unions, district administration, government departments, and community members from the Bacha Mena region of Khyber District. The World Bank Task Team also participated in the proceedings.

Mr. Muhammad Toufeeq, Additional Secretary, P&D Department, formally opened the workshop, highlighting the deep-rooted traditions of cross-border trade that predate the constitution of Pakistan. He emphasized that the feasibility study aims to bridge policy gaps, create enabling provisions, and establish mechanisms for effective implementation. He expressed satisfaction with the extensive consultations carried out over several months and stressed that infrastructure investments shall promote prosperity, foster economic inclusion, and help deradicalize the region.

Mr. Imran Zahoor, Project Director, KPEC, underscored that the validation workshop provided an opportunity to present key findings of the feasibility study and gather stakeholder feedback, particularly on strategies to improve livelihoods and economic opportunities for border communities.

The workshop featured a panel discussion with representatives from the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Khyber Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Pakistan Border Trade Council, and trade experts. Participants deliberated on further recommendations and validated the study’s proposals.

Closing the session, Ms. Kiran Afzal, Senior Private Sector Specialist at the World Bank, appreciated the active participation of private sector representatives and acknowledged their valuable input in shaping the proposed model

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