Afghan transit trade: '23,900 containers disappeared in last 2 and a half years'
In a briefing to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee for Finance, chairman FBR said that the national exchequer has lost almost Rs50 billion due to the disappearance of these containers.
He informed the committee that the transporters were responsible for the disappearance of these containers.
Siddiquie said his department is estimating the amount of loss caused by the disappearance of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) containers. The ISAF container issue is a separate case.
The new Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) became operational in June this year but soon after became redundant due to operational difficulties due to a blockade of cargo at Karachi ports. The distinct features of the new treaty that make it different from the 1965 transit treaty are insurance guarantees and tracking systems.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) recently in a testimony to the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce claimed that insurance companies have agreed to issue guarantees for Afghanistan-bound goods. The companies were to start issuing guarantees after September 7 – the day the two-month waiver comes to an end.
New Jubilee Insurance Company, National Insurance Corporation Limited and EFU Insurance had agreed to extend guarantees while Adamjee Insurance had given its consent in principle.
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Pakistan should discourage the transit trade. Because of this genuine importer based in Pakistan are suffering heavy losses. Almost 50% duties difference between Afghanistan and Pakistan. So many people in Peshawar working as a carrier. You just handover your container from any port outside Pakistan they will deliver it to your destination inside Pakistan in parts.
If 23900 containers disappeared how many more got torched ? We keep reading on a daily basis the number of containers being torched or looted so please let us have that figure too. Mostly container traffic traverses through National Highways which one would assume are the most secure, alas if that were true.
This was happen because all that high profie official have taken the Afghan war as a business. but no one cant dare to talk about this. now you would be considered a good and loving citizen to your beloved Pakistan whenever you deed for yourself not for your country. all the enemies of pakistan are rolling over the common people.
@H.A. Khan:
"And what was FBR doing?
What was Pakistan Customs doing?"
Taking their cut that is what.
From bottom to top in the administration each one involved must have got their sizeable " Cut " or else it is not possible. It is not a small amount. Often I read of the "so moto" notice taken by the SCJ. Is the matter worth taking yet one more such notice ?
Can Chairman FBR brief that at what price a filled or empty container is sold in the open market in Pakistan?
@H.A. Khan:
All good questions. This must be the most hopeless and corrupt institution on the planet.
And what was FBR doing?
What was Pakistan Customs doing?
All are to be blamed and should be held responsible