Custom Officials finalize arrangements at Torkham

Thursday, 05 July 2012 13:24

Posted by Parvez Jabri

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LANDIKOTALThe Torkham custom officials have made all arrangements with regard to reopening Nato supplies though the formal directives from the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) and the federal government are yet to be received, AC Custom Ubaid Ullah informed while talking to media persons at Torkham.

Assistant Political Agent Landikotal Khalid Kundi also confirmed to this news agency that so far the administration has not received any orders about Nato supply resumption.
The political administration of Torkham has not planned anything yet as the high ups have not intimated nor issued any directives so far, Tehsildar Torkham Meraj Khan said adding Political Agent Khyber would give instructions and guide lines about the future strategy how to deal with the Nato supplies’ trucks and oil tankers at Torkham.
The common tribesmen and the villagers have expressed fears and disappointment saying the tension would increase in the area and the law and order situation would go worse after the Nato/ Isaf supplies go through Khyber Pass.

The security forces and the Khyber Khasadar Force will jointly adopt security measures at various terminals at Torkham to maintain the law and order situation, Tehsildar said adding security personnel’s strength may be increased.

On the other hand the Custom officials at Torkham said that they were mentally prepared how to deal with the Nato supplies at Torkham terminals adding that the supply would take three to four days from Karachi port to reach Torkham border crossing, which is enough time.

Meanwhile the Khyber Transport Union president Shakir Afridi has opined that the tribal transporters would not initiate the Nato supplies until and unless the fares of the supplies are increased and the security is provided to the transporters.