The tribal industrialists, investors, importers and exporters pay almost 50 percent of the country's total import duty bill from Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar dry ports.
It is 100 percent from Peshawar dry port, 50 percent from Lahore and 25 percent from Karachi dry ports, said Abdul Hakim Shinwari, Senior Vice President of Tribal Areas Chamber of Commerce and industry (TACCI) while talking to APP here on Thursday.
The tribal people have great potential in running business activities and today they have almost full control over the hotel business, transport and tourism fields in the country.
The tribal entrepreneurs, he said, were today paying all taxes including income tax, sales tax, import duty and property tax and formation of the TACCI was to give boost to the business activity in the tribal belt, to explore its hidden potential like tourism, minerals and to bring the tribesmen in the mainstream of national development through legal business.
"We want to remove the stigma of being drugs baron, smugglers, terrorists and extremists by entering into legal business activities, he said.
The TACCI will play key role in creating awareness among the tribal folk about getting technical education and motivate them against ill effects of the illegal business", he added.
In reply to a question, Shinwari said, "the TACCI will try to address the core issues confronting the tribal people as in today's era the real success lies in economic development and promotion of education. We are as broadminded and progressive people as any body-else."
Today Asia's biggest electronic industry is being run by a tribesman, he said adding, a young group of tribal people constructed the biggest ever trade center in the country.
When asked about tourism potential, the SVP of TACCI said tribal areas have matchless historic and scenic spots which could be opened to the world with little efforts.
To substantiate his view point, he said running of Khyber Safari train service on regular basis, opening of Tirah valley for tourists, developing scenic spots in Parachinar, Orakzai, Kalam and Kumrat valleys could promote tourism activities to an unimaginable magnitude.
Tirah is a lush green valley where maximum temperature reaches 15 to 20 centigrade during summers, he said adding construction of the road could open up this valley to the tourists within two hours drive.
Moreover, agriculture sector has great potential in Tirah Valley and could be streamlined on sound footings by introducing the modern farming techniques.
Some portion of the road leading to Tirah valley has been constructed and the people of the valley are now close to modern life as vehicles replaced mules, he explained.
He also called for establishment of a dry port in Landi Kotal in place of Railways Station and setting up of display centers to push business activities in the agency.
Moreover, revenue sources could be generated by putting on display the hand made arms manufactured in Darra Adam Khel, he said adding, this is the only town in the world left where hand made arms are manufactured.
Abdul Hakim Shinwari said in Mohmand and Bajaur agencies, marble deposits are available in large number and the TACCI is working on a plan to install latest machinery for saving this precious asset as 75 percent marble goes waste during cutting process.
Similarly, Shilman in Khyber agency, South and North Waziristan, Orakzai and Mohmand agencies have mineral deposits in abundance.
The membership of TACCI has reached over 500 in short span of a year while Swat hotel business association have announced to join the tribal chamber shortly.
He said non-tribals could become member of the TACCI provided they make investment in tribal areas.
Currently the TACCI has representation on the FPCCI as one of its member Faiz Rasool is the Vice President of the country's apex trade body and Muhammad Akbar Khan as member Managing Committee of FPCCI.