KHYBER: Imports from Afghanistan via the Torkham border were temporarily suspended due to a technical fault in the import scanning machine on Tuesday.

Local importers told Dawn that both the Afghan and Pakistani authorities allowed only empty vehicles stranded on the Afghan side since the border was closed in the third week of February due to differences over the construction of a controversial checkpost on the Afghan side.

They said that this was the second time since the reopening of border that the import scanner developed fault, halting import of coal, soapstone, fresh and dry fruits from Afghanistan.

They alleged that despite repeated fault in the scanning machine, the customs terminal operator, National Logistic Cell, charge Rs8,000 from every vehicle, both loaded and empty.

Traders demanded the installation of a modern scanning machine in order to expedite bilateral trade.