Pak-Afghan goods transporters threaten to stop supplies to Nato
PESHAWAR (April 27 2007): Pak-Afghan goods transporters on Thursday threatened to suspend all types of transportation from Friday to Nato forces in Afghanistan in case illegally levied taxes and 'ghunda taxes' being collected across the border by the so-called commanders were not stopped.
"We are now fed up and have unanimously decided to stop all sort of supply from Pakistan to US and Nato forces in Afghanistan. Because, not only the so-called commanders, but the Afghan government also charges huge and unnecessary taxes, in the form of road tax, tool plaza tax and annual tax, which is extremely injustice to us."
Speaking at a joint news conference, Pak-Afghan transporters and owners of trailers Shakir Afridi, Aziz Afridi, Abdul Rehman Ahmadzai, Qasim Arab and Bacha Oriakhel were of the view that strike would continue until and unless their demand were met, saying there would be a complete strike today (Friday) in support of their genuine demands.
They claimed that they were usually stopped at gunpoint and huge amount of money were demanded by the commanders soon after they cross the border. Drivers and owners of trailers are physically tortured whenever they refused to meet the demands. "We have, time and again brought this into the notice of Afghan government, but to no avail," they said and added, "this is so inhuman and condemnable".
In this connection, they informed that they have met Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other influential individuals, who have always promised to stop taking Bhatta, but there was nothing on the ground as the commanders were not interested to act upon government's directives.
"Presently, we are supplying different kinds of stuff from Pakistan to US and Nato soldiers in Afghanistan via four-entry points, Torkham, Khost, Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif, and for the purpose, over 1,200 container trailers are being used, out of which around 600-700 trailers cross the border through these points daily," they maintained. They called upon the government of Pakistan to assist them and resolve the issue amicably. In Pakistan, they said transporters have to pay Rs 3000 within three months to the government, while they have to give Rs 120,000 to the Afghan authorities annually, which they said was too much than enough.
http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=556410&currPageNo=3&query=&search=&term=&supDate=
PESHAWAR (April 27 2007): Pak-Afghan goods transporters on Thursday threatened to suspend all types of transportation from Friday to Nato forces in Afghanistan in case illegally levied taxes and 'ghunda taxes' being collected across the border by the so-called commanders were not stopped.
"We are now fed up and have unanimously decided to stop all sort of supply from Pakistan to US and Nato forces in Afghanistan. Because, not only the so-called commanders, but the Afghan government also charges huge and unnecessary taxes, in the form of road tax, tool plaza tax and annual tax, which is extremely injustice to us."
Speaking at a joint news conference, Pak-Afghan transporters and owners of trailers Shakir Afridi, Aziz Afridi, Abdul Rehman Ahmadzai, Qasim Arab and Bacha Oriakhel were of the view that strike would continue until and unless their demand were met, saying there would be a complete strike today (Friday) in support of their genuine demands.
They claimed that they were usually stopped at gunpoint and huge amount of money were demanded by the commanders soon after they cross the border. Drivers and owners of trailers are physically tortured whenever they refused to meet the demands. "We have, time and again brought this into the notice of Afghan government, but to no avail," they said and added, "this is so inhuman and condemnable".
In this connection, they informed that they have met Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other influential individuals, who have always promised to stop taking Bhatta, but there was nothing on the ground as the commanders were not interested to act upon government's directives.
"Presently, we are supplying different kinds of stuff from Pakistan to US and Nato soldiers in Afghanistan via four-entry points, Torkham, Khost, Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif, and for the purpose, over 1,200 container trailers are being used, out of which around 600-700 trailers cross the border through these points daily," they maintained. They called upon the government of Pakistan to assist them and resolve the issue amicably. In Pakistan, they said transporters have to pay Rs 3000 within three months to the government, while they have to give Rs 120,000 to the Afghan authorities annually, which they said was too much than enough.
http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=556410&currPageNo=3&query=&search=&term=&supDate=
