KARACHI: The government is incurring a loss of around Rs 3.5 billion a month or Rs 41.8 billion a year in exemptions granted in duties and sales taxes to tankers supplying fuel to NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Hundreds of tankers transport thousands of litres of fuel to NATO troops each month. “Each day, 120 oil tankers transport fuel from two oil depots of Karachi to NATO troops. Each tanker carries as much as 50,000 litres,” a source in the Petroleum Ministry told Pakistan Today.
“Normally, the Pakistani public is charged Rs 19.34 for every litre sold to them by the government. However, NATO forces do not pay a single penny to the taxpayers of Pakistan because of a transit-trade agreement with the government,” the source said. Former ISI chief Hameed Gul told Pakistan Today that these shipments were causing losses in billions.
“Pakistan is losing over Rs 41 billion a year, something it cannot afford to lose, especially at this time when it needs funds to help rebuild its infrastructure and relocating its people after the floods,” he said. According to a statement released by the US government on May 26 this year, Pakistan had received a little under $7.5 billion for its role in the war on terror since 2001.
“The US has provided us money for our operations only. Pakistan has lost more than simply its assets. Our sovereignty has been lost, not to mention the men and women who have sacrificed their lives for the country for this senseless war. Who will be held accountable for that?” Gul said.
The former spymaster said the war had forced the army to change strategies and move 147,000 soldiers from the eastern border for deployment on the western front. “Something like this has never happened in the history of this country,” he said.
The oil transport business involves four companies, which engage more than 3,000 tankers to transport fuel to Afghanistan. Al-Hajj group has sidelined 1,000 of its tankers for NATO fuel supplies, Mengal Brothers 1,500, Spinners 500 and Bilal Company 50.
