Daily Times

Deputy Commissioner Khyber Sanaullah Khan has said the government believes in facilitating business people. Considering the harsh economic situation, it is the need of the hour to take all possible measures for the smooth sailing of trade and commerce in the country.

According to a press statement on Wednesday, he expressed these views while talking with a delegation of business people dealing in Pak-Afghan trade.

The delegation was led by the Coordinator Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi. Other participants of the delegation included Former VP of SCCI, Engr. Manzoor Ellahi is vice chairman of the All Pakistan Custom Clearing Agents Association, Farooq, and director of PAJCCI, Imtiaz Ali.

The meeting was called on the request of the SCCI President on the agenda on trade with Afghanistan through the 0Torkham border.

During the meeting, the businessmen pointed out the treatment of the exporters and carriers of transit goods up to zero point of the Afghan border by the police on different check posts by demanding heavy amounts on the pretext of checking the Afghan-bound trucks.

Speaking on the occasion, Coordinator PAJCCI, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, recalled that before the extension of the district administration system to FATA, Political Agent Khyber used to issue a permit (Rahadari) to Afghanistan-bound trucks by charging Rs. 5000.

He demanded the revival of the same practice by Deputy Commissioner Khyber so the extra payment to different departments by businessmen while sending goods to Afghanistan is stopped.

DC Khyber expressed his concerns and promised to resolve the issue by urgently issuing directives to concerned quarters and taking higher security officials on board.

He emphasized that considering the country’s adverse economic situation, the government should facilitate the traders and businesspeople as they are the backbone of economic growth.