LANDI KOTAL, Oct 15: The smuggling of poultry from Peshawar to Landi Kotal has increased owing to the ban imposed on transportation of chicken to tribal areas and failure of authorities to fix a quota for different tribal regions.The dealers in Landi Kotal told Dawn that they were compelled to pay Rs30,000 to police posted in the limits of Mathra police station in Peshawar and an additional Rs15,000 to Rs20,000 to khasadars manning various checkposts on Peshawar-Torkham Road to meet the local demand for poultry.The Peshawar High Court on July 23 ordered imposing a ban on transportation of poultry to Afghanistan and directed Peshawar commissioner to fix a quota of chickens for different tribal areas in consultations with the political agents concerned keeping in view the daily demand for poultry in those areas.

PHC Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan had taken suo motu notice of a report prepared by the human rights cell of the court about export and smuggling of cattle and poultry to Afghanistan.

“The office of Peshawar commissioner is yet to determine the quota for Khyber and thus poultry is taken illegally to Landi Kotal as per daily requirement,” an official of the political administration told Dawn on condition of anonymity.

He said that they were aware of the smuggling of poultry products via Malagori-Jamrud Road to Landi Kotal but they couldn’t antagonise local population as a complete ban would result in its acute shortage.

However, he said that smuggling of poultry to Afghanistan via Torkham border had been effectively stopped.

A poultry dealer, who requested not to be named, said that owing to additional financial burden, they had also increased the prices of poultry items in Landi Kotal.

“We sell a two-kilogram chicken for Rs300 whereas the prices in Peshawar have dropped considerably owing to ban on transportation of poultry to tribal areas,” he said.

The increase in prices of chickens has also affected local population of Landi Kotal as only 1,500 to 2,500 chickens are sold on daily basis as compared to 4,000 to 5,000 chickens per day before the imposition of ban, according to dealers.

They said that they were dependent on poultry farms in Peshawar and its adjoining areas as the three farms situated in Loe Shalman and Zakhakhel areas could not cater to the local demand. “Also, the quality of local chickens is inferior to that of Peshawar,” a dealer said.

Poultry dealers and officials of political administration accused Peshawar police of taking undue advantage of the ban. They alleged that on a number of occasions Peshawar police confiscated poultry of dealers having legal permits, issued by the political administration.

They said that despite the fact that smuggling to Afghanistan via Torkham was effectively checked, 25 to 30 trucks carrying poultry and meat were crossing into Afghanistan daily through Borki and Khar Lachi border towns of Kurram Agency.