Anti-trade policies: Pakistani, Afghan transporters observe wheel-jam strike
Authorities of both countries charge at least Rs10,000 from each truck that enters their country
PHOTO: ADB
LANDI KOTAL:
Transporters from both Pakistan and Afghanistan observed a wheel-jam strike on Tuesday against authorities on both sides of the Durand Line for creating hurdles in transporting goods between the two neighbouring countries.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Khyber Transport Association President Shakir Afridi said excise and border authorities of both the countries charged at least ten thousands rupee from each of the Pakistani and Afghan truck that enters their country.
Pak-Afghan trade halves ‘due to transit trade glitches’
“The Pakistani drivers are harassed by the local police and the excise department also takes bribe. And when a truck passes through various check posts in Afghanistan, most of the drivers and their conductors are harassed if they do not have valid passport or visa,” Afridi said.
On the other hand, he said, the Pakistani border management officials also harass the Afghan truck drivers and they have made it compulsory for the drivers and conductors to have visas. “These trucks also have to pay Rs5,000 when they pass through Pakistani soil,” he added.
Afridi said the association has notified the authorities on both sides of the border. “But both of them have turned a deaf ear to our calls and today we have staged a protest against the injustices of the authorities,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2016.
Transporters from both Pakistan and Afghanistan observed a wheel-jam strike on Tuesday against authorities on both sides of the Durand Line for creating hurdles in transporting goods between the two neighbouring countries.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Khyber Transport Association President Shakir Afridi said excise and border authorities of both the countries charged at least ten thousands rupee from each of the Pakistani and Afghan truck that enters their country.
Pak-Afghan trade halves ‘due to transit trade glitches’
“The Pakistani drivers are harassed by the local police and the excise department also takes bribe. And when a truck passes through various check posts in Afghanistan, most of the drivers and their conductors are harassed if they do not have valid passport or visa,” Afridi said.
On the other hand, he said, the Pakistani border management officials also harass the Afghan truck drivers and they have made it compulsory for the drivers and conductors to have visas. “These trucks also have to pay Rs5,000 when they pass through Pakistani soil,” he added.
Afridi said the association has notified the authorities on both sides of the border. “But both of them have turned a deaf ear to our calls and today we have staged a protest against the injustices of the authorities,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2016.