PESHAWAR: The transporters have threatened to go on strike against surge in tax on Afghanistan-bound vehicles at the toll plaza on Ring Road near Hayatabad.
Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club, All Mushtarka Transporter Trailers and Trucks Owner Association President Haji Mohammad Yousaf said that the toll tax was initially imposed on the Afghanistan-bound vehicles but Peshawar Development Authority had starred collecting it from local transport too.
Besides, he said, tax was also collected from light vehicles that made life of local people miserable. He said that Rs50 was collected for a light pick-up vehicle, Rs100 from a trolley, Rs200 from a truck and Rs500 was collected from a multi-axils trailer as toll tax.
Yousaf said that all the taxes were imposed in November 2016 but the transporters negotiated with relevant officials for their withdrawal. “We tried repeatedly to hold meeting with PDA director general but he did not give us time to hear to our grievances,” he added.
The transporter said that imposition of tax by PDA on trucks, carrying food and non-food items, was not acceptable to them. He said that a large number of local vehicles had to pay for crossing the plaza on daily basis.