GILGIT, May 30: The commerce ministry has allowed release of over 35,000 boxes of firecrackers and plastic shooters after 30 per cent payment of duty on the items which were seized by the customs authorities at Sust check-point back in 2002. Official sources said that the items, listed in the negative category in 1998, had been smuggled from China. On the other hand, the traders said that they had been trading in firecrackers even after 1998 as they were never informed about their listing in the negative category.

They added that the seized crackers and plastic shooters worth Rs50million had been jointly imported by the local traders.

An official said that no concession would be made in future on the import of goods listed in the negative category and such things would be seized.

In a statement, the Northern Areas Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed the decision to release the firecrackers and plastic shooters and said that it would prevent a huge loss to the traders.—Correspondent