IT is no secret that the import of pine nuts, or ‘chilghoza’, one of the most expensive dry fruits in Pakistan, is allowed from Afghanistan after greasing the palms of officials. The price of the dry fruit has skyrocketed in the last few years. Sometimes, the local small-scale businessmen and vendors import it from the adjacent areas of Afghanistan. These people pay a huge amount in bribes to officials; from the border crossing till its destination in the big cities of Pakistan.

Every check-post has its own rules. People cannot carry fruits for their personal use. The government must revise its border management policy.

Moreover, the collection of taxes and levy is the responsibility of the tax department.

The police should not interfere in trade and commerce, and should stop harassing truck drivers and vehicles coming from Afghanistan, the erstwhile Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Bribes to officials is nothing new, for the people even have to pay bribes to transport their indigenous fruit, such as apples, almonds, walnuts, apricots and palms.

Fida Hussain Wazir
Wana, South Waziristan

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2021