The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Thursday decided to regulate the import of Potassium Chlorate, which is used in the manufacture of matchsticks and firecrackers, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The decision was taken at a meeting, presided over by the additional chief secretary and the home department officials.

The meeting was told that custom duty was not paid on the import of the chemical. Besides that, its import was not regulated either as any department can import it without obtaining a no objection certificate (NOC) first, it was informed.  

Most of suppliers of the chemical are in China followed by India and the USA.

The provincial government also decided to crack down on those involved in the sale of banned firecrackers under which lists will be prepared of the shopkeepers selling the prohibited items as well those supplying them and stocking them.

Similarly, a decision was taken to revisit the rules allowing the import and use of the chemical as well as to organise the mechanism to ascertain how much chemical had been imported and how much it had been consumed.

The meeting was told that there were two license holders or those who dealt in firecrackers in KP; one in Karak and the other in Mohmand.

On the occasion, directives were issued to the deputy commissioners of all districts of the province to take steps to stop the movement of Potassium Chlorate and prohibited items.

It was informed that the Federal Ministry of Commerce had been requested to include the chemical in the Import Policy Order 2022 so that its import could be regulated.

Reporter: Amir Shehzad