Pakistan Customs has auctioned hundreds of containers carrying goods belonging to Afghan traders at Karachi Port. Images released by an auction company show opened containers and goods displayed for prospective buyers.
An Afghan trader named Matiullah told the BBC that the auction process began a few days ago and that traders had received prior notices. Pakistan Customs cited taxes, storage charges, and delays in clearing the goods as reasons for the action.
Earlier reports said that more than 140 containers belonging to around 19 Afghan companies were at risk of auction. Another trader put the number of remaining containers at approximately 345. The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries had also previously warned of the risk of around 15,000 containers and shipments being auctioned. However, the exact number of containers auctioned and shipments still remaining at the port is not yet clear.
The stranded goods reportedly include sugar, cooking oil, infant formula, raw materials for production, marble, and used vehicles. Border crossings between the two countries have faced restrictions and repeated closures since October 2025. According to figures from Pakistani trade sources, the value of bilateral trade reached approximately $358 million in the 2025–2026 fiscal year, around 72 percent lower than in the previous fiscal year.
As of the time of writing, Pakistan Customs has issued no official statement, and Taliban government officials have not commented on the matter.
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