PESHAWAR, Feb 6: Two government-owned industrial units were looted in Spin Kai Raghzai area in South Waziristan Agency, official sources said.

They said that supporters of an influential militant commander in the tribal area had taken away machinery from two sick industrial units, South Waziristan Foot Ware, Leather Goods and Tanneries Factories, near Jandola.

An official said that machinery and furniture worth millions of rupees had been sold in the market a few days ago.

“We have received reports that the entire machinery has been taken away from the factories, but the agency’s political administration has yet to intimate authorities in Peshawar,” he said.

He said the administration had also closed vocational centres for girls in South Waziristan after the out-stationed staff failed to perform duty regularly owing to the deteriorating law and order situation.

The two leather and tanneries factories were set up in 1978 at an estimated cost of Rs16 million. The factories had been running in losses and shut down in 1986.

Officials said that the Fata civil secretariat had planned to auction the sick units.

The government has already auctioned industrial units in the seven tribal agencies.