KHYBER AGENCY: Collector Customs Peshawar Qurban Ali Khan has said that business and trade to be boosted up to $5 billion at Torkham. He said that the establishment of Jamrud dry port would not only enhance exports but would also bring progress to the area.
Collector Qurban Ali was addressing a selected gathering of Shinwari Khugakhel tribe elders and Torkham custom clearing agents. He said that it was out of question that government was intending to shift business, trade and jobs from Torkham station to Jamrud dry port, saying that annually Torkham Custom station is giving profit of more than $3 billion which the custom department was planning to enhance upto $5 billion.
He said that if the Shinwari tribe elders were willing, the government could build another custom station at Landikotal besides Torkham, adding that Jamrud dry port would be shortly established to cater to the needs of the custom keeping in view the growing trade on this route. He also said that 5 laks tons sugar would be exported to Afghanistan for which the available facilities at Torkham station would not be sufficient.
He said that government was interested to facilitate tribal people that is why there is relaxation with tribal people in collecting taxes at low rate from them. He lauded the sacrifices of the tribal people for Pakistan. Illegal business and export would be strictly forbidden and checked at any cost in the interests of the country , he said, adding that after collection of taxes the government was spending this money on the development of the country.
Meanwhile Nasir Khan , Shinwari , Mufti Ijaz Shinwari and Masal Khan in their speeches appraised the visiting guest of their problems and requested the
They said that Peshawar Custom Collector Qurban Ali not to shift jobs and trade facilities from Torkham to Jamrud as it could have very negative impacts on the social life of the people in Landikotal. They offered their services to government and custom authorities if they needed any land or other facility at Torkham or any where else in Landikotal.
They argued that after shifting custom clearance facility from Torkham to Jamrud , thousands of labours and custom clearing agents would suffer, adding that being at Torkham station they had the opportunity to meet their needs at Torkham as well as across the border.
