(MENAFN- Pajhwok Afghan News) HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Officials and traders from western Herat province have expressed concern over what they call extortion of money by security forces at dry ports, entry gates to the city and on highways.
Saad Khatibi, the Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) provincial chapter head for Herat, on Sunday during a press conference here alleged security check-posts situated along highways, entrance gates to the Herat city, the provincial capital, and dry ports in the province were somewhat leased by some influential elements within the government and personnel and soldiers manning the posts extorted money from businessmen.
He said this phenomenon had long history in the province and the government had many times dismissed those individuals accused of illegal extorting; but government's measures were for short-term as the extorting practice had again revived after a short while.
The ACCI provincial head asked the provincial administration to seriously address the issue.
Ziaul Haq Rahmani, the Poultry Union head in Herat, voiced apprehension about the extortion by security forces. A number of farm businesses had gone bankrupt as they were unable to send chicken meat to other provinces due to increased extortion.
'The fleecing by security forces of those transferring poultry in trucks to other provinces has surged recently. We transfer truckloads of poultry at night but we aren't allowed to do so until we pay the security personnel.'
He alleged if one refused to pay the illegal gratification, then his truck would be stopped.
Meanwhile, the poultry association and ACCI chiefs also expressed concern over illegal transfer of poultry products from foreign countries, including and Iran.
They said dozens of containers of chicken meat and eggs entered the country without payment of the customs duty. 'The government pays no attention to the smuggling.'
They warned if the smuggling of poultry and eggs was not prevented, many poultry farms would be closed and rendered bankrupt.
However, the governor's spokesman, Jilani Farhad, said they had so far received no complaint regarding extortion by security forces and the smuggling of poultry into the country.
He promised if such complaints were registered with the provincial government, they would address them at the earliest possible.
sns/mud
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