Traders complain of illegal weighing machines

JALALABAD (PAN): Unauthorised vehicle-weighing machines have been installed at various places in Laghman and Nangarhar provinces, a traders’ representative alleged on Sunday.

The machines had been installed in Torkham and Daka areas of Nangarhar and Khairokhel area of Laghman, an official of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) claimed.

Eng. Muhammad Qasim Yousafi, the ACCI head for the eastern zone, told Pajhwok Afghan News the weighing machine operators were unlawfully receiving fees from traders.

The allegation comes a day after a representative of traders, Dr. Mukhlis, told a meeting of the Jihad in this regard, but to no avail.

“The problem in Torkham is true to some extent, but the area does not fall in the jurisdiction of the public works ministry,” said Deputy Public Works Minister Eng. Ahmad Shah Wahid.

“No one is extorting even a single afghani in the Khairokhel area, which is under our ministry’s control,” he added.

3rd Border Police Brigade Commander Col. Muhammad Ayub Hussainkhel said no border police official had been involved in bribery. He asked traders to inform him if border police officials were found taking bribes from drivers.

The problem had been resolved after traders complained to Nangarhar Governor, Gul Agha Sherzai, said his spokesman, Ahmad Zia Abdulzai.

mas/ma/mud

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