The number of registered Afghan citizens living in Pakistan is about 1.5 million, out of which more than 8 million Afghan citizens live in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province alone.
Most of the Afghans who have been living in Pakistan for the past 40 years have been involved in various types of business here. Most of them are preferring to live in Karachi, Quetta or Peshawar to do trade or business. Many of them are now considered among the biggest businessmen of Pakistan.
Most of the Afghan businessmen are involved in goods transport, garments, real estate and hardware business in Pakistan.
Shahid Hussain, Senior Vice President of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Urdu News that there are small businessmen who are doing various businesses to support their families, the top among them is the business of restaurants and tea dhabas.
"There are some of them who have invested billions of rupees in various sectors and are earning billions of rupees through successful businesses."
According to Shahid Hussain, 'Afghan traders are at the forefront of transport. Their vehicles run from Karachi to Peshawar and Kabul, in which goods transport is at the top.
Likewise, Afghan citizens have invested heavily in property, while garments are also a favorite business of Afghan businessmen. However, it is mostly limited to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kabul.
Trade in Pakistan, factories elsewhere
Shahid Hussain said that despite massive investment in trade, Afghan citizens hesitate to set up industry in Pakistan.
One of the main reasons for this is our industrial policies, which Afghan investors do not trust. They understand that at any time there can be a problem for us. They are setting up factories in Dubai, Bangladesh and other countries instead of Pakistan.
Shakeel Zaman, an Afghan businessman doing business in Peshawar, told Urdu News that Afghan citizens invest more in the business of vehicle spare parts and tires because the profits are high.
He said that big Afghan dealers first deliver goods in containers to Karachi market and then bring them to Peshawar.
"Sometimes Afghans invest through a Pakistani partner without coming forward."
According to Shakeel Zaman, 'A few years ago, the carpet business was also profitable, but for the past few years, the businessmen connected with it are now shifting to other businesses due to the decline of this sector.'
Peshawar used to be a major center of Afghan carpet factories, which are now defunct.
Afghan trader Naseem Khan has been involved in the dry fruit and bean business for the past 10 years.
He said that when the season comes, this business becomes silver, as soon as the goods arrive, they sell hand to hand.
According to Naseem Khan, the high dollar and unrest have also affected this business. Therefore, businessmen shy away from investing in this business.
What are the difficulties faced by Afghan businessmen?
Afghan businessman Naseem Khan said that if terrorism or any untoward incident happens on the Pak-Afghan border, it affects his business.
Our vehicles are stopped unnecessarily on the transit route. Similarly, when cargo vehicles come to Torkham border, they are also harassed.
He said that the government should provide protection to them like other businessmen because their investment in this country is also associated with the employment of thousands of Pakistanis.
Are Afghan traders also included in the reference handi?
According to FIA officials, Afghanistan's major investors are also working as currency reference brokers.
To buy goods in some part of the country, these Afghan dealers are contacted for which they exchange money through handi.
FIA officials further say that many handi dealers who are buying and selling dollars have also been arrested.
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