PESHAWAR: The elders of Khugakhel tribe of Landi Kotal here have demanded of the federal government to ensure implementation of their agreement with the Federal Board of Revenue in order to release the pending rent of export-import terminal at the Torkham border.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Sunday, a group of the elders, led by Shah Rehman and Barkatullah Khan, said that the Khugakhel tribe had given 300 kanals to the FBR on annual rent of Rs22 million, but despite the agreement the payment was delayed for over two months.

They said that it was the duty of terminal operators of the National Logistics Cell (NLC) to ensure timely payment of the rent, but the same was delayed for unknown reasons.

The agreement, they said, had been signed on June 4, 2015, with a condition of five per cent increase every year.

They alleged that the officials of NLC were using delaying tactics to implement the agreement.

They warned that in case the federal government did not take interest in resolution of the issue the tribesmen would announce protest demonstrations.

They said that the landowners were ready to observe a sit-in protest for acceptance of their genuine demands.

“Most of our people are poor and they have been facing financial problems due to the delay in payment of the rent. The government should either ensure the payment or return our land,” they pleaded.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2021