ISLAMABAD, April 25: All Pakistan Betel nut (Chalia) Importers and Retailers Association (PBIRA) has urged the president, General Pervez Musharraf to direct the tax officials for the early release of withheld 350 containers of betel nut, which had resulted in price hike of the commodity in the local market.

The collectorate of customs (Appraisement), Karachi had withheld the containers of betel nut three months back on the pretext that the imported betel nut from Indonesia was not good for human consumption.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, chairman, PBIRA Sardar Muhammad Sohail said that betel nut was one of the large revenue spinner for the exchequer and withholding of the containers was resulting in revenue loss of Rs70 to Rs80 million to the national exchequer.

He said that the unabated smuggling of betel nut also resulted into a loss of Rs2 million per day to the national kitty, since last one month.

He said that it was unjust that the customs authorities have cleared 12 containers of betel nut at Quetta dry port, while the same item when imported by Karachi importers was withheld.

He further said that due to this action the price of betel nut had increased to Rs140 per kg from Rs27 in the last three months.