Thousands of immature poplar trees are being illegally exported to Afghanistan from Pakistan, according to the Pakistan Match Manufacturing Association.

Its chairman, Mohsin Aziz, has warned the government that safety match making companies would close unless the trafficking was stopped.

Mr Aziz said the illegal export route used to be through Torkham but a clampdown there had forced the thieves to shift activity to Wanna and Gandaf.

He said the illegal activity had shot the price of softwood up by 100% in recent months and added that if the government did not put a stop to it thousands of workers would lose their livelihood.