The politicians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are busy in celebrating the government’s announcement about non-implementation of Customs Act in Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) but none of them bothers to focus on other problems faced by the people of the region.

The Customs Act had once extended to Pata, which also includes Malakand division, in 1975 but the decision was not implemented owing to some commitments made with the people during merger of former Dir, Swat and Chitral states with Pakistan in 1969. Since then, the area has been known as tax-free zone.

A few months ago, the federal government again announced extension of Customs Act to the area in the light of a summary sent to it by the provincial government but the people of the region strongly opposed it and launched protest against the decision of the government.

All political parties and civil society organisations jointly launched a campaign against it, observed shutter down strike, held rallies and convened all-party conferences to mobilise people and announced to stage a sit-in outside Parliament House in Islamabad.

Keeping in view the reaction of the people, provincial government forwarded another summary through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor to the President of Pakistan for withdrawal of the Customs Act.

As a result of the campaign and provincial government’s stand, Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar announced withdrawal of Customs Act in Pata, saying the under-developed area was affected by militancy.

The withdrawal of Customs Act was good news for Pata people, especially for those dealing in the business of non-custom paid vehicles and local industrialists. Now every political party is eager to take credit for playing effective role in the drive against Customs Act. Some politicians are busy in issuing statements to media on daily basis, addressing press conferences and using the issue for strengthening their vote bank in Pata.

In fact, the issue brought all political parties and civil society organisations on a single platform across Malakand division.

The people have taken a sigh of relief but they don’t know that if the government has withdrawn the Customs Acts 1975 or that of 2016 and it has been really withdrawn or only its implementation has been delayed.

The people called off all protest plans and celebrated the government’s announcement by distributing sweets as if Customs Act was the only major issue faced by them.

It is true that extension of Customs Act to Pata was one of the major issues but there are many other issues in the region that need unity of people.

During a visit to Dir, Swat and Malakand Agency, the local people were seen talking about lack of healthcare facilities, improper schools, dilapidated condition of roads and non-availability of drinking water.

The government’s performance can easily be judged from the condition roads leading to different scenic spots like Malam Jabba, Kalam. Even the main Malakand Road from Dargai to Batkhela is in dilapidated condition. No mechanism is in place for maintenance of the 12-kilometre road, which has been affected badly by heavy traffic.

Many of the shopkeepers and vendors said that they did not know about the consequences of Customs Act’s implementation, however, they were opposed to any kind of price hike. They also asked the politicians to join hands for reconstruction of all destroyed schools, hospitals and roads and force the government to provide jobs to the educated youth.

Leaders of various political parties told this scribe that implantation of Customs Act was injustice with the people of Malakand division so they opposed it with full force.

QWP leader MPA Bakht BAidar Khan said that credit went to his party as it forced the government to withdraw the order. “It was our joint effort that succeeded,” he said. Besides, he said, all political parties would again join hands to raise voice for rights of the people and resolution of their issues.

PML-N senior vice president Eng Ami Muqam said that provincial government had sent a summary to governor for extension of Customs Act to Pata. He said it was PML-N that played vital role in withdrawal of the order. PTI and Jamaat-i-Islami had no sympathies with the people as they sent the summary for implementation of Customs Act in Malakand, he added.

ANP central leader MNA Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour said that his party had held all-party conference at Fishing Hut Chakdara against Customs Act and was determined to take any possible step in that regard. He said that he held a meeting with Ishaq Dar and convinced him to withdraw the law as it was great injustice with the people of the militancy-hit region.

Customs Collector Qurban Ali Khan, when contacted, said that implementation of Customs Act was in the best interest of the people but they did not know about it. The implementation of the law, he said, would have paved way for establishment of various facilities in Malakand division including airport and dry pot besides creating job opportunities. He said that the law would have improved export and import to strengthen local economy.

The official said that main purpose of the protest campaign was to protect the non-customs paid vehicles but it was an issue that could have been resolved through holding dialogue with government.

He said that Customs Act was already implemented in Federally Administered Tribal Areas through FC and political administration.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2016