Whether one calls it ‘incompetence’ on the part of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Custom officials or connivance between the officials of two departments, a paan mandi has (Paan Market) has appeared at Lahore Airport’s cargo parking area and is doing a brisk business, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

Quoting sources, the TV channel reported that Allama Iqbal International Airport’s cargo administration has given complete freedom to a blue-eyed clearing agent and importers to do paan business in an area deemed most sensitive without any fear of being caught.

So instead of transporting the paan imported from Sri Lanka to markets, the importers have started selling it within the limits of the airport.

Resultantly, there is no bar on the entry of hundreds of people and dozens of vehicles in the cargo’s parking area every day.

Not only that, the gathering of such a large number of people at the paan mandi has also made a mockery of the coronavirus-related standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Appealing to the CAA administration to take notice of the clear breach of law, All Pakistan Paan Cigarette Association office-bearers have regretted that despite the fact that paan mandis are located across Punjab some corrupt officials have ganged up to sell the commodity right at the airport.

They have said that due to the development, several paan importers were robbed of their imported items.

At the same time, they have alleged that the administration has deliberately turned a blind eye to the illegal business being done right under their nose.

Reporter Saeed Ahmed Saeed