TIMERGARA, Nov 17: Sale of non-custom duty paid vehicles have given birth to a plethora of problems in the Dir district, because these vehicles are being used by anti-social elements in criminal activities.

According to an estimate, there are 15,000 non-custom duty paid vehicles in Dir district, including latest models of Datsun, hiaces, land cruisers, Pajeero and Corolla etc., which are smuggled from Afghanistan via Chitral and Bajaur Agency, Parachinar.

Due to their low prices, people have purchased these vehicles in large numbers. However, since many people here could not drive these vehicles on their own, these vehicles are mostly driven by their teenaged sons, which often leads to accidents.

Car dealers in districts of Shangla, Swat, Buner, Dir lower and upper, Chitral and Malakand have complained of slump in the business of duty-paid vehicles because of illegal sale and trade of smuggled vehicles.

The buyers have also been benefited by the non-implementation of Custom Act in Malakand Agency.

The vehicles not only have created a rush in the bazaars, but they have also been used for carrying out criminal acts, which are then inaccessible for the police.

The government has tried to put in place the Custom Act and discourage the trade on various occasions but those involved in the illegal business resort to protest demonstrations which delayed the action.

Officials concerned told Dawn that they could not impound these costly vehicles, because they are used by doctors, lawyers, high-ranking government officials and other influential persons.