November 10, 2006	Friday	Shawwal 17, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Nov 9: The government is considering a proposal to allow the National Logistics Cell (NLC) to import around 300 used trucks to further strengthen its country-wide trucking operations.

Well-placed sources told Dawn on Thursday that the NLC — a subsidiary organisation of Pakistan Army — has moved a summary to the commerce ministry seeking duty exemption for the import of these trucks by making special relaxation in the law.

The government had imposed ban on import of all kinds of trucks in commercial quantity. However, in personal baggage or gift scheme only five years old truck could be imported by the overseas Pakistani following fulfilment of all conditions.

The government has allowed the NLC trucks to transport the goods imported under the Afghan Transit Trade (ATT). The NCL for all practical purpose was sole land transporter of the crude oil in the country.

The source said that for keeping the monopoly in transportation in goods and services, they needed to further strengthen its trucking fleet.

Ironically, the government was not allowing the private sector to import the used trucks apparently to give protection to a local manufacturer, which did not meet the requirement of the domestic market.

Currently there was a fleet of around 150,000 trucks plying on the roads. The technology of 100 per cent fleet consists of rigid suspension of old and obsolete Bedford trucks out of which about 67 per cent were two and three axle rigid trucks, eight per cent articulated and 25 per cent multi-axles trucks.

With this composition, the sector cannot be integrated with international trade routes.

The present state of affairs prevailing in this sector is largely due to absence of smart policies and non-existence of an intelligent Transport System.