Khost traders say their goods stopped since a month

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Some traders and shopkeepers on Sunday claimed intelligence forces had parked their vehicles loaded with ‘legally’ imported goods from Pakistan since a month in southeastern Khost province, awaiting customs clearance.

The goods include medicines, flour, food and non-food items which have been imported from Pakistan through the Ghulam Khan port into the province.

Traders said their goods carrying vehicles remained parked at the province’s customs for the past one month and warned if the issue was not resolved, it would badly impact their economy.

The intelligence personnel stopped the commercial goods carrying vehicles under the pretext to look for illegal, expired or low quality goods, they added.

Khost traders and shopkeepers’ association head Haji Jamal Taani told Pajhwok Afghan News the government was unfairly treating Khost traders and shopkeepers.

He said NDS personnel had parked all goods and jailed their owners, which was against the principle.

 “As the NDS personnel claim they look for illegally imported goods, but when we have passed all legal procedures and have documents in hands, how can it be called illegal,” asked Taani.

Gul Wali Khan, a shopkeeper in Khost City, said if the issue remained unaddressed, they would switch to Torkham port for importing commercial goods from Pakistan, but the move would result into an increase in prices.

“It will result in price hike besides creating unemployment if we have to import goods via Torkham port.”

Meanwhile, Khost Chamber of Commerce and Industries head Nawab Amirzai told Pajhwok that the government should provide facilities to Khost traders instead of creating troubles for them.

He urged the government to provide facilities to entrepreneurs at the Ghulam Khan port same as provided at Torkham, Spin Boldak ports and other ports of the country.

Pajhwok tried to seek comments from the customs and NDS offices in this regard but failed.

However, Talib Mangal, the governor’s spokesman, said the parked goods had been illegally imported to the province and in order to implement the law the goods were shifted to the Khost customs office.

He said, “We want from traders to do business in line with the customs law and we support traders in all circumstances.”

Experts believe the government should to provide all facilities to traders because they pay taxes to it.

pk/ma