100s of trucks and truckers stranded at Pak-Afghan borders amid virus threat.

KARACHI -- Hundreds of Pakistani truckers and their helpers are stranded on the Afghan side of the border at two main border crossings despite the prime minister's orders for opening the border for good transport.

The Chaman and Torkham border crossings with Afghanistan and the Wagah border crossing with India were closed earlier this month in an attempt to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, which has infected nearly 1,600 people and killed 17 of them.

Zahidullah, a member of the Afghan Transit Standing Committee, told The Express Tribune that around 1,500 trucks carrying shipping containers are stuck at Chaman and 800 at Torkham since last month.

Additionally, around 1,000 trailers are waiting on the Afghan side of the border to enter Pakistan.

'They are over 6,600 drivers and their helpers in these trucks and their life is at risk,' he said, adding that the drivers have run out of cash and food and are living in miserable conditions. 'They are selling oil and tyres of their vehicles to meet their needs.'

PM Imran orders opening of Afghan border 'despite global pandemic'

One of the drivers stranded at Chaman said he has been stuck at the border crossing since last month due to which his family is facing...