PESHAWAR, Nov 22: A 6-member delegation of Pakistan Match Manufacturers Association headed by former provincial minister Mohsin Aziz met NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah at the Governor's House on Monday.

The delegation, which also comprised former chairman of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry Adil Rauf, Haji Muhammad Afzal and Usman Bilour, briefed the governor on the problems their industry was faced with in the province.

They cited the illegal transportation of poplar wood across the border through tribal areas as one big problem. The governor said that more effective measures were being taken to stop smuggling right on the borders. In this connection he mentioned a decision of establishing joint customs checkpoints on borders at 14 different points, from Bajaur up to Waziristan.

He was confident the measure would improve the situation a great deal. Responding to the demands of the delegation, Mr Shah said that special vigilance cells would be created to effectively monitor the illegal flow of poplar wood across the border.

A 15-member representative delegation, comprising elders from Baffa, district Mansehra, also met the governor on Monday.