ISAF containers: Pakistan to double service charges from 2012
The Pakistan government on Thursday decided to increase service charges for transit cargo sent for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and US personnel stationed in Afghanistan.
Against the existing charges of Rs5,000 per container, the new rates will be Rs10,000 per container, effective from January 1, 2012 for shipments bound for US, ISAF and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces, said an official of the finance ministry. He said the charges are meant to recover costs incurred on trucking, documentation and toll taxes. Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh approved the proposal during a meeting of the National Logistic Board (NLB). The National Highway Authority has recently revealed that NATO and ISAF containers have caused Rs124 billion worth of damage to the national road network over the years. ISAF and NATO cargo has come under scrutiny after containers marked for Afghanistan went missing en route. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is currently scrutinising US and NATO cargo traffic to determine the exact number of missing containers and the losses they have caused to the national economy in the shape of damaging local industry and loss of tariff revenue.
The meeting also deliberated the implementation of a monitoring and coordination regime for US, ISAF and NATO cargo. It also reviewed the options of sealing and scanning containers, installation of tracking devices and setting up check points. Director General NLB shared a progress report on Afghan Transit Trade with participants. The meeting discussed measures to avoid any duplication in the functioning of NLC and FBR’s customs department. The finance minister also approved a proposal for the independent registration of National Logistics Cell (NLC) with the Saudi Registration Authority, a new commercial registration agreement between NLC and Qatar and purchase of 21 light vehicles.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2011.
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@jon: $20.7 is not a big amount if you look at national level expense. America spent $972 billion on education alone back in 2007. This is just to show how small $20.7 billion is (2% only) and with that $20.7 billion we expect a country to rebuild highways and repair her economy? That money was not given as charity, it was in return for the services provided, like the air bases and the ammunition used in this war of terror. That $20.7 billion is not even enough to build the structures destroyed due to terrorism since Pakistan joined the alliance, let alone the economy. Pakistan’s economy has suffered direct and indirect losses of up to $67.93 billion since 2001 due to its role as a front-line state in the war against terrorism which is way way bigger then the $20.7 billion you mentioned. Now add that $67.93 billion to the loss of lives of over 35,000 civilians and 3,500 security personnel and compare it with 9/11 and 7/7.
Irony is the country which cannot afford to arm her own army Pakistan is accused of arming terrorists in Afghanistan!
We are an underdeveloped country, we are trying hard to "meet your expectations", give us a break! Respect!!!
America has given Pakistan $20.7 billion since 9/11 That amount of money could have rebuild pakistans highway and greatly stimulated the economy. The pakistan government is misusing the money.
Don't worry my dear now your value is less than double . Don't expect more than this for a Pakistani in the international market .
Ridiculous that Pakistan keeps letting the Americans use the roads and so supports the American killing machine. Close the roads and the American aggressor will leave which in the long run is in Pakistan best interest. All the bombings and bloodshed Pakistan had to go true is all retractable to the American invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. If that ends so will the terror here in Pakistan.
One mans service charge is another mans extortion - Pakistan continues to tarnish it's reputation.
make it more than double...we deserve more after what has happened to our economy