Torkham Border
KHYBER
On the direction of the highup, National Logistic Cell (NLC) handed over control of pedestrian immigration terminal to the Customs Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) and local police here on the last day.
Written order received by this subscribe stated that NLC Torkham will discontinue operational management of pedestrian immigration terminal Torkham with effect from 12 May 2022 and operational functioning of the terminal may be handled by customs and FIA in respective mandate.
All NLC staff employed on operational management duties will be withdrawn with effect from 1900 hours,12 May 2022,however NLC Torkham will continue to provide administrative maintenance and technical support to all stakeholders in smooth functioning and overall management of pedestrian immigration terminal Torkham.
One of the NLC officials in Torkham while confirming it said that NLC gave up all its responsibilities assigned to it in the pedestrian immigration terminal and withdrew all of its staff from the terminal.
Only perform duties as facilitator like sweeper, pedestrian scanner, generator and AC operator etc. he added.
Earlier, all the duties at the border including passport checking, body search, lady search, security etc. were executed by the NLC that now handed over to its concerned departments, the official said.
On the other hand, Station House Officer (SHO) Akbar Afridi said that the police officials were deployed at passengers’ terminal, Torkham to perform their duties.
Efficient police officials were posted to facilitate passengers at the crossing.
People from different walks of life appreciated the development and said the police officials would relax certain restrictions at the border, imposed by the NLC.
Former president of laborers union, Torkham Farman Shinwari declared it a positive step and said being a permanent public servant, the police officials would work hard not only to ease the incoming or outgoing passengers but to facilitate the local laborers.
He asked the authorities concerned to loosen up border crossing policy for the local laborers so that they could earn three meals for their family.
It is to be stated here that a number of complaints from civilians and the government departments had been lodged against rude behavior of NLC officials and overlapping utilizing their authority at Torkham border had put a question mark at the performance of it.
