KHYBER: A jirga of Khuga Khel sub tribe of Shinwari in Landi Kotal on Saturday termed the recently floated tender by the National Logistic Corporation (NLC) about the newly constructed customs terminal against the written agreement with them and demanded its immediate termination.

Presided over by tehsil chairman Shah Khalid Shinwari, the jirga alleged that the NLC invited quotations from non-locals for operating canteen and cafeteria, regulating pedestrian movement and loading and unloading of trade related cargos at the new terminal, which was a clear violation of the promises made with the Khuga Khel tribe at the time of signing of the agreement prior to its construction.

The jirga unanimously rejected the said tender and demanded of the NLC to invite fresh quotations only from the locals, who were the actual owners of the land where the terminal was constructed.

The jirga further reminded the NLC that according to the terms and conditions of the agreement, the NLC was under obligation to offer 75 percent share while recruiting staff in different categories to the local people alongside providing jobs to local educated and skilled tribesmen on priority basis.

The Khuga Khel jirga contended that now when the NLC had announced to inaugurate the newly constructed border custom terminal on August 14, it had backtracked on the promises it had made with them and instead invited quotations from outsiders which was in gross violation of the agreement.

The jirga also demanded prompt and adequate compensation for the additional land which the Khuga Khel provided to the NLC for expansion in the terminal design.

“We want the additional land to be properly and accurately measured alongside provision of access to the daily computerised data of the terminal operations as per the terms and conditions of our agreement”, the jirga unanimously demanded and warned that if their legitimate demands were not accepted, they would hold a protest demonstration on August 14, and also boycott the inauguration ceremony.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2025