PESHAWAR: The trader community, dealing in import and export of coal, has demanded the government to allow entry of coal stranded vehicles into Afghanistan and save them from further financial losses.
Taking to Customs Today, Coal Traders Association General Secretary Iqbal Yousaf said that around 20,000 ton of coal is loaded on more than 500 trailers and trucks stranded on Afghanistan side since the closure of Torkham border. He lamented that they would have to bear huge financial losses of over Rs400million if border was not reopened immediately.
Flanked by the association members, Sohail Ahmad, Malik Zafar and Haji Bagh Jalal, he said they are being paid Rs3500 per day as rent of a truck but transporters are also demanding extra fares amid prolonged closure of the border. Moreover, he said they did pay Rs57million as export duty to Afghan authorities.
Yousaf also said they will pay additional freight of Rs300million besides a huge amount of Rs08million as load and unload charges in Afghanistan if their vehicles are not permitted to depart early, he added. He said the business community has already suffered colossal monetary losses due to prevalent circumstances in Pakistan, and urged the government to avoid further economic genocide of the community.
The association president said the government of Pakistan has collected Rs.01billion under the head of Sale and Income tax from the coal traders. He informed the authorities concerned that every year around four lac ton of coal are imported from Afghanistan to Pakistan.
On the occasion, Sohail Ahmad said cement industry and other industries give them orders. He said if demand of clients was not fulfilled timely in Pakistan, they will inflict enormous financial losses, and urged Pakistani authorities to allow the entry of stranded vehicles to save them from further losses.
He also appreciated the role of security forces and government of Pakistan for taking tight security measures and border management, which is pre-requisite for country’s safety and security.
