KHYBER AGENCY - Jamrud dry port will be established shortly to cater to the needs of the custom keeping in view the growing trade on this route.
“The establishment of dry port would enhance exports and bring progress to the area,” said Custom Collector Peshawar Qurban Ali while speaking to a gathering of Shinwari tribe elders and custom clearing agents at Landikotal here on Thursday.
Custom Collector Peshawar Qurban Ali 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 dollars which the custom department was planning to enhance up to 5 billion. He said that if the Shinwari tribe elders were willing, the government could build another custom station at Landikotal besides Torkham. 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.
Qurban Ali said that government has established a new department for Chamman, Torkham and Wahga borders known as Pakistan Land Port Authority so that trade and business could be boosted. He said that government was interested to facilitate tribal people, which is why there was 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, Peshawar Custom Collector Qurban Ali was requested 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.