GILGIT, Aug 12: The customs authorities have decided to destroy firecrackers that were seized at the Sost checkpoint in 2001.

Sources said the authorities had issued directions for destroying the firecrackers worth Rs200 million on Aug 19 and the customs officials had held meetings with the Northern Areas home department officials and police here on Monday. “The customs officials have sought our support in this regard,” a home department official told Dawn.

He said the department had not heard the Northern Areas Importers and Exporters Association’s (NAIEA) point of view about the decision.

He said the final decision rested with the customs and the department was only supporting the operation for meeting any law and order situation.

The traders’ representatives said a case pertaining to the seized goods was under trial in the customs tribunal in Islamabad.

NAIEA representatives Mirza Hasan and Jauher Ali Raki said they had acquired a certificate from the Wah Ordnance Factory, which stated that the seized firecrackers were non-explosive items.