Non-custom paid: Hundreds of vehicles impounded at checkpoints

Tribesmen unable to reach settled areas to get their cars regularised.

DI KHAN:

In both North and South Waziristan, residents are rushing to pay custom duties on non-custom paid (NCP) vehicles through the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) scheme aimed at regularising smuggled cars.

However, their desires remain unfulfilled when they are stopped at security check posts before reaching the settled areas of Pakistan.

Around 900 NCP vehicles have been held at Saidgai security check post on Bannu-Miranshah Road. “I crossed the Kajuree check post with some other tribesmen, but we were all stopped at Saidgai checkpoint,” said Mathiullah, a resident of Mir Ali.

He added they were stranded as they were not allowed to travel to Bannu to pay the duties and also unable to go back to North Waziristan. “We are not being permitted to regularise these vehicles.”

“I did not put myself in this situation,” Mathiullah explained. “I only wanted to earn some money by paying custom dues for my vehicle as per the government’s orders.”

Similarly, at Kawor security check post on Gomal Zam Road, over a hundred NCP vehicles have been stopped from going into settled areas to pay custom duties.



The tribesmen who bought these vehicles to regularise came to Tank to stage a protest against the political administration of South Waziristan, who they alleged were demanding money in exchange for allowing vehicles through.

Akbar Zoman, a resident of Wana, told The Express Tribune prices for NCP vehicles were rising due to the FBR’s scheme. “Prices have gone up from Rs250,000 to Rs450,000 for some cars,” he said, adding locals were trying to take full advantage of this opportunity provided by the government.

“We are in contact with security forces, but they have their own reservations and checking requirements,” said Dr Wajid Ali Khan, customs collector for DI Khan, Kohat, Bannu and Fata. “There is legal justification to regularise these vehicles,” he added.

The FBR, under its 2013 Amnesty Scheme, recently allowed the registration of smuggled vehicles for a discounted fee. The board directed customs houses across the country to ensure all NCP vehicles were legalised before March 31 this year, after which the government will take strict action against all unregistered vehicles.

Despite concerns from local assemblers and importers who believe the scheme will negatively affect their businesses, the FBR has maintained it will benefit private motorists in addition to generating around Rs15 billion in revenue for the government.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2013.