ISLAMABAD, April 23: The government is likely to announce an amnesty scheme for the non-duty-paid vehicles plying in various parts of the country.

Well-placed sources told Dawn on Tuesday that decision to this effect is likely to be taken at a meeting scheduled in the next two days.

The sources said that the NWFP Governor, Iftikhar Hussain Shah, had sent a letter to the federal government seeking an amnesty scheme for the registration of all seized and smuggled vehicles across the province.

The governor said that before the launching of a drive against the non-duty-paid vehicles plying in various part of the province, mostly in tribal areas and the Malakand Agency, the federal government should give them a chance for paying duty on their vehicles.

The government had announced an amnesty scheme in March 2000 in which 66 per cent depreciation in value was allowed to the owners of the non-duty-paid vehicles for paying taxes on their vehicles.

Top customs officials when contacted confirmed to this scribe that a request had been sent by the NWFP governor to the federal government for the consideration of the said scheme.

They, however, said it was too early to say anything about the proposed meeting on smuggled vehicles to be presided over by finance minister Shaukat Aziz.

The officials said that in case the issue was considered then according to them, the scheme would be almost similar to the earlier announced schemes.

It is believed that the government is expected to approve the scheme aiming apparently to plug the shortfall registered in the nine months of the current financial year.

Despite thrice downward revision in the annual tax target, the revenue receipts fell short by 3.46 per cent. The government received Rs269.23 billion in taxes against the target of Rs278.89 during the July-March period of the current financial year.

When compared with the last year’s collection of Rs276.67 billion, it fell by 2.68 per cent this year during the same period.

On the other hand, sources said traders from the NWFP and Bolochistan were also expected to visit Islamabad shortly to strike a deal with officials in return for their backing to the referendum.

Following the US-led attacks on Afghanistan, vehicles of various makes had been smuggled through the porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Several thousands non-duty-paid vehicles are plying in various districts of the NWFP, Bolochistan and Punjab.