Cargo business of around Rs40bn at risk due to attacks on NATO supplies
KARACHI: Pakistans cargo business of around Rs40 billion per annum remains at risk due to continuous terrorist attacks on NATO forces supplies for Afghanistan through Pakistan, an official said on Monday.
In a period of less than three years, more than 100 oil tankers were torched and 120 drivers killed. The number of other cargo vehicles is in addition to it.We dont get any compensation for the loss of lives, gets small amount for the vehicles and no insurance company is ready to insure our oil tankers, he said.
Most of the goods, including fuel, military equipment, clothing and other stuff to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces in Afghanistan are supplied through Pakistan.We are facing security problems and concerned over attacks, said Yousuf Shahwani, chairman Supreme Council of Transporters and All Pakistan Oil Tankers Association.
Sources said that the drivers are demanding higher fares to Afghanistan despite double the regular fair as they have been horrified by the regular attacks on cargo trucks.They get Rs18,000 for a trip to Afghanistan against Rs9,000 to the same location in Pakistan. Usually, their destination in Afghanistan i.e. Kandahar is 1,500 kilometres from Karachi.
At least seven people, including drivers and cleaners, were killed on Wednesday near Islamabad, where militants torched around 20 cargo trucks. In April, 12 trucks were burnt along with the cargo. Not only the Taliban, but seminary students also are involved in attacks, Shahwani said.
Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik soon after the incident near Islamabad had said that they were not responsible for providing security to NATO cargo. Asif Mahmood, chairman Pakistan Transport Federation, commenting on the statement of the federal minister said it was a flawed opinion.
The interior minister is responsible to provide security to the lives and property of the people. They have to arrange safety, he said. Why should it not be provided to NATO? Their cargo is passing thorough the land of Pakistan, he said.
The minister could say that NATO forces should also take precautionary measures during their cargo movement through Pakistan, said Mahmood. Due to regular attacks on the cargo trucks, the fare almost doubled during the last one year. Average fare for an oil tanker is around Rs700,000 per trip and one driver visits Afghanistan at least eight times a year. The number of cargo trucks has also increased to almost 200, including oil tankers daily from 50 trucks in 2006.
Mahmood said that the truckers chose those drivers who go to the battle fields. They do sacrifice. Only freight charges get increased and around 10-15 per cent fare has been increased after the Islamabad attack.
Shahwani, who owns four oil tankers, said they do not get any compensation for the loss of lives. Though attacks are common at the Khyber Pass, the drivers are not safe at the Bolan Pass as well. Students of local Madressah are also involved in attacks as they think the cargo is provided to their enemies.
Besides attacks by the militants, bribery of Pakistan and Afghan police has also made the drivers feel insecure. They are also creating hurdles, said Shahwani. Despite complaints with the top officials in Sindh police, there has been no remedy so far, he said.
The policemen deployed on the road from Jacobabad to Kashmore demand extortion money, he said. To us, every Pakistani agency is Taliban whether it is levies, customs or police, all of them rob us.
Haji Azeem, spokesperson for a leading contractor group, Mengal Brothers, said at least $8 million were provided by a fuel supplying company, besides their own security men, but it was not visible. He said security would be tightened if FC or police is provided to the cargo trucks and oil tankers. Attackers dont take the private security personnel seriously, he added.
Cargo business of around Rs40bn at risk due to attacks on NATO supplies
