Traffic woes: With ‘unfair’ taxation, transporters in Peshawar close to snapping

Truckers mull over a wheel-jam strike against ‘fifth’ tax.

PESHAWAR:

Already forced to pay four types of taxes, the imposition of the latest load/unload tax is “unjust” and will result in a ripple effect that can bring the province’s entire supply chain to a halt.

All Pakistan Goods Transporters’ Association President Malik Haji Khwaja told The Express Tribune that they are considering a wheel-jam strike to raise their voice against the tax, which is being collected in a manner akin to extortion.

He said that authorities have set up toll plazas on Ring Road and other areas across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas to collect this levy, which amounts to Rs300 for six-wheelers and Rs500 for ten-wheelers. He also said that the transporters are also subjected to harassment and extortion by police officials.

He said that the transporters work all day and night to supply goods across the country and Afghanistan, and without their hard work people will suffer.

“We are already paying token tax, professional tax, income tax and regional permit tax and it is simply unfair to impose another tax in such a situation,” he remarked.

He said the government should instead focus on the 40-kilometre-long Pak-Afghan Highway, which is in an “awful” state.

Khyber Transporters Ittehad General Secretary Wilayat Shah Afridi explained that several check posts had sprung up across the province due to law and order situation and every other check post “charges” Rs200 from transporters.

“The truck drivers are often subjected to verbal abuse and insult if they argue back,” he added, saying, “the transport sector is the backbone of a country’s economy. The government, instead of facilitating us, is adamant on crushing this sector by imposing unjust taxes.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2011.