News Dec 25--NATO supply cut hurting Pakistan’s economy

 

NATO supply cut hurting Pakistan's economy

Oil tankers stranded at borders are live bombs

Ports, border points becoming storage and parking areas

Congestion hurting trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Islamabad: [Dec 25]

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Sunday demanded steps to avoid losses to the economy after suspension of the NATO supplies.

Government should continue to cut vital supply line but chalk out a plan to keep economy clear of any negative impact, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President of the PEW.

Talking to leading transporters including VP, ICCI Shahid Zaman Shinwari, he said that the Nov 26 decision to cut NATO supplies has resulted in clogging at seaports.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that piled up supplies are impeding commercial activities which is resulting in losses to all the stakeholders.

Seaports and border stations are transit points which should not be allowed to become choked storage or parking area, he said.

Shahid Zaman Shinwari said that containers and takers have also created congestion at Torkham and Chaman which is hurting trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The situation has also created shortage of commercial vehicles pushing up Karachi-Peshawar per trailer shipping cost by around Rs 30,000, he said adding that hike in cost and delays has a negative impact on overall fragile business environment.

Demanding immediate removal of containers, Shinwari said that Afghan-bound Nate's huge logistics chain mainly consist of fuel which can be called as living bombs.

Others present on the occasion included Ch. Azad, Mushtaq Afridi, Pervez Shinwari, Haji Syed Kand, Ismail Shinwari and others. They lauded the decision to slap embargo on NATO goods in the wake of aggression.

They informed that majority of transporters ferrying supplies have cancelled their deals with Karachi based companies facilitating NATO after Mohmand Agency aggression.

They supported the moves to boycott Bonn conference, rejection of American findings and compensation offer terming it insufficient grounds for restoring supply lines.

Transporters also rejected US claim of poor coordination behind deadly strike and condemned her stubborn attitude. Russia should also slash NATO supplies to Afghanistan, they said.

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