Four weeks on, goods’ transporters still stand opposed to FBR

Transporters demand abolition of Custom-bonded carrier system.

KARACHI:

The strike called by the goods’ transporters for Nato and Afghan Transit Trade against a new system introduced by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has entered its fourth consecutive week.

The All Pakistan Goods Transporters Ittehad (APGTI), an association of truck owners linked with cargo supplies to the Nato forces in Afghanistan and Afghan Transit Trade, have been protesting for the past 20 days. Their main demand is to abolish the Customs-bonded carrier system, which makes it obligatory for transporters to register their trucks with one of the 40 companies authorised by the FBR to control shipments to Afghanistan.

According to All Pakistan Combined Truck and Trailers Welfare Association chairperson Mustaqil Afridi, nearly 10,000 trucks and trailers in Pakistan are linked with the cargo supply to Afghanistan and over 800 containers are shipped every day through these vehicles. “We are suffering losses but were forced to take this step,” said Afridi. “We would have suffered losses even if we accepted the new rules.”

The transporters have suspended all supplies from Karachi to Chaman and Torkham borders for an indefinite period. Afridi claimed that their strike will continue until they get rid of the new system.



Meanwhile, a 10-member delegation of APGTI will meet the FBR chairperson and Pakistan Custom officials in Islamabad today. APGTI general secretary Hanif Khan Marwat told The Express Tribune that if the talks fail, they will put more pressure on the government.

“We will close all cargo supply within the country and we will surround the Pakistan Customs buildings in Karachi,” warned Marwat.

According to Marwat, nearly 27 Customs-bonded carrier companies are supporting APGTI and a delegation of these companies, headed by Captain Mustafa, will meet Customs officials. Captain Mustafa told The Express Tribune that they only support the legal demands of the transporters.

“We only support their legal demands not the illegal ones, for example, if someone is involved in theft.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2013.