Tax on NATO containers
THE Public Accounts Committee has recommended to the Government to collect revenue from the NATO containers carrying oil and other supplies to Afghanistan through Torkham and Chaman crossings. There had been a general perception that Pakistan might be collecting toll tax and transit duties for use of its road network and other facilities but the disclosure that they were enjoying free movement has surprised everyone.
An estimated 70 percent of NATO supplies move through Khyber to re-supply troops fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The bulk of NATOs supplies arrive in the port city of Karachi, move north to Peshawar, and head west to the Torkham crossing into Afghanistan and the final destination in Kabul. The rest of the supplies pass through the Chaman border crossing point in Balochistan. Constant movement of NATO containers is causing damage to the roads yet they are not asked to pay full toll tax. The NATO/ISAF and American Transit Freight to Afghanistan is in practice from 2002 to till now and they are not only causing traffic jams but severely damaging the infrastructure due to overloading. Earlier last month, the Senate Standing Committee on Communication also recommended that NATO containers were made bound to pay toll tax at toll plazas as these overloaded trucks are damaging the national highways. The committee was informed that the NATO containers have caused Rs 122 billion losses to the roads of the country. Despite these losses to our infrastructure, every day Pakistanis listen the sermons about cutting of US aid but unfortunately for unknown reasons, no one points out in response that the Americans/NATO are getting more than they pay in the shape of free transit facility. Even the dues on account of Coalition Support Fund (CSF) are being held up under various pretexts. The previous government is responsible for allowing the transit facility without making the NATO forces to agree for the payment of transit charges and toll tax which is an unpardonable act. US was forced by Kyrgyzstan in 2010 to triple its fee for using Manas air base in Bishkek, another transit route for supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan. As the Pakistan transit facility is being availed since 2002, the country has the right to demand the payment of arrears of toll tax and transit fee and one hopes that sooner this matter is raised with the Americans the better.
THE Public Accounts Committee has recommended to the Government to collect revenue from the NATO containers carrying oil and other supplies to Afghanistan through Torkham and Chaman crossings. There had been a general perception that Pakistan might be collecting toll tax and transit duties for use of its road network and other facilities but the disclosure that they were enjoying free movement has surprised everyone.
An estimated 70 percent of NATO supplies move through Khyber to re-supply troops fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The bulk of NATOs supplies arrive in the port city of Karachi, move north to Peshawar, and head west to the Torkham crossing into Afghanistan and the final destination in Kabul. The rest of the supplies pass through the Chaman border crossing point in Balochistan. Constant movement of NATO containers is causing damage to the roads yet they are not asked to pay full toll tax. The NATO/ISAF and American Transit Freight to Afghanistan is in practice from 2002 to till now and they are not only causing traffic jams but severely damaging the infrastructure due to overloading. Earlier last month, the Senate Standing Committee on Communication also recommended that NATO containers were made bound to pay toll tax at toll plazas as these overloaded trucks are damaging the national highways. The committee was informed that the NATO containers have caused Rs 122 billion losses to the roads of the country. Despite these losses to our infrastructure, every day Pakistanis listen the sermons about cutting of US aid but unfortunately for unknown reasons, no one points out in response that the Americans/NATO are getting more than they pay in the shape of free transit facility. Even the dues on account of Coalition Support Fund (CSF) are being held up under various pretexts. The previous government is responsible for allowing the transit facility without making the NATO forces to agree for the payment of transit charges and toll tax which is an unpardonable act. US was forced by Kyrgyzstan in 2010 to triple its fee for using Manas air base in Bishkek, another transit route for supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan. As the Pakistan transit facility is being availed since 2002, the country has the right to demand the payment of arrears of toll tax and transit fee and one hopes that sooner this matter is raised with the Americans the better.
