PESHAWAR, Oct 10: NWFP suffered a major setback in its efforts to improve its economic base amidst falling exports, slowing down of industrial and business activities in the backdrop of the September 11 event and subsequent retaliatory US-led operations in Afghanistan.

Exports of indigenous goods from NWFP including carpets, honey, fresh fruits and vegetables, handicrafts and furniture have come to a virtual halt as a result of cancellation of already placed orders from US and Afghanistan during the last one month.

Besides, in the post-Sept 11 situation suspension of flight operations from Peshawar by foreign airlines has also brought the NWFP export business to almost standstill.

Withdrawal of operations by foreign airliners and shipping firms  caused major decline in the size of imports, slowing down the industrial wheel in NWFP.

“NWFP is no exception, the overall economic activities in the country have suffered,” said a senior officer of the customs  collectorate, Peshawar.

Businesses other than food stuff and items of daily consumption appear to be in limbo as the NWFP’s consumer markets — even the markets of smuggled goods in Peshawar and else where in NWFP — experienced far less activities due to increasing uncertainty and rising threat to peace in NWFP.

Peshawar-based firms dealing in stock business experienced major withdrawal of investments.