Pakistan, Oct. 24 -- Border closures between Pakistan and Afghanistan have pushed up prices of essential goods, with tomatoes now costing five times more in Pakistan since fighting broke out between the two neighbours this month. The prices of tomatoes have jumped by over 400 per cent to around Rs600 per kg. Apples, which mostly come from Afghanistan, are also seeing a price surge.

Around 5,000 containers of goods are stranded on both sides of the border, said a Pakistani official at the main Torkham border crossing in northwest Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the FBR said on Thursday that customs clearance of exports and imports was suspended at the Customs Border Stations of Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi and Angoor Adda since October 12.

In a...