PESHAWAR: Factory owners belonging to erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal (Fata) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) expressed concern over delay in clearance of palm olein and RBP palm oil-laden containers at AzaKhel Dry Port, Nowshera.

Talking to a group of reporters on Wednesday, the Malakand Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) President Mohammad Shoaib Khan said that due to non-clearance of RBP palm oil, thousands of containers have been stuck up at Azakhel Dry Port, Nowshera, adding that Rs 7,000 per container is being charged as rent on daily basis.

He told media that as many as 165 factories in ex-Fata have been closed due to which the prices of oil and ghee in the country have been increased at Rs 550 per kg.

MCCI chief further said after restricting import quota of raw materials of ghee, steel and plastic by the FBR for ex-Fata and Pata, the clearance process of hundreds of containers-laden with RBP palm oil has been slowed down.

He said the Customs, federal and regional tax collection authorities have shifted responsibility to each other regarding clearance of vehicles, which has disrupted industry supply and created great difficulties for industry owners.

He said that sales and income tax exemptions have been given by the government till June 2023 in Malakand, Bara, Dargai, Swat, Dir, Mohmand, Bajaur and other merged districts but before that import quota of raw materials had been allocated as per production capacity, which is completely unjust and unfair, which has forced factories owners to shut down units.

He said that at present Indonesia has banned the export of palm oil. The difficulties of the exporter have increased due to the present scenario, he said.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022