GHULAM ABBAS
ISLAMABAD: The trading route between Pakistan and China via land – the CPEC route at Sost Border remains suspended since the last 48 consecutive days as importers and exporters protest against the introduction of a new online clearance system, Web-Based One Customs (WeBOC) at the border.
Despite the suspension of bilateral trade on the route at Sost, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), has outrightly rejected the request made by Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Gilgit Baltistan Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) to continue the manual clearance system as local businessmen were unaware of the new system. Besides, the modern clearance system was being introduced in an area where internet facility was not available.
During a meeting with representatives of GB Chamber and FPCCI, the FBR Chairman and other officials here on Thursday denied reconsidering the decision of implementing the new customs system. “They simply rejected our demands saying that the FBR has nothing to do with what the traders face at Sost Border. The attitude of FBR was highly discouraging despite the fact that the said meeting was arranged on the direction of Finance Minister Miftah Ismail” said GBCC President Nasir Raki while talking to Pakistan Today.
“What can we do when the FBR is not even honouring a stay order of GB’s chief court. The court on May 16, issued a stay order against implementing the web based customs system till May 29,” he said. “We will keep the route blocked until we are heard and our rightful demands are met,” Raki added.
FBR, soon after opening the border on April 1, after the annual closure route for four months in the harsh winter season, had introduced the WeBOC system without prior intimation or training to the importers and exporters, sources said. Domestic traders and exporters bemoaned the introduction of WEBOC as they claimed GB didn’t have reliable internet services and weren’t adept at learning this new system.
“It is a conspiracy to fail trade activity between Pakistan and China through the Karakoram Highway as it will render thousands of local people jobless,” Raki declared.
Apart from the stay order issued by Chief Court in GB, the Chief Secretary GB Babar Hayat Tarar, on May 14, has also written a letter to Prime Minister office, FBR Chairman and Secretary, Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan urging them early resolving the issue.
The letter, a copy of which is available with Pakistan Today, says “the importers, traders, hoteliers, shopkeepers etc. are all planning to go on an indefinite strike in Sost on 15 May 2018. It is pertinent to mention that Sost, being a border town, is dependent on commercial activity linked to Sost Dry Port and all the intending strikers have been affected by the closure of customs post at the Sost Dry Port. Whereas, the utility of WeBOC as an efficient and transparent collection tool for the Government to collect revenues cannot be understated.
It is equally important that the system may be introduced in a phased manner like at Turkham and Chaman Customs Posts. Manual and WeBOC clearance can be continued simultaneously until the importers become accustomed to the new system after which the manual system of clearance can be phased out gradually. Such an arrangement will be a win win situation for the government and stakeholders from the private sector.”
“An early action’ in the matter shall go a long way in restoring the confidence of the people of Sost and will also help avert possible repeated blockades of the Karakoram Highway,” it concluded.
On Tuesday a protest car rally began from Gilgit and culminated at Sost along the Karakoram Highway. It was organised under the banner of the ‘Anjuman Tajiraan Border Pass Gilgit-Baltistan’. The protest rally was supported by the Awami Action Committee (AAC). Slogans were raised against the FBR. Participants carried placards that had captions such as ‘Na Manzoor Na Manzoor, WeBOC Na Manzoor’ (We do not accept (WEBOC), and added that they saw this as an attempt by the federal authorities to deprive locals of their jobs.
Apart from the demand of early removal of the WeBOC system, the traders of the region are also now demanding that Gilgit-Baltistan be declared a Free Trade Zone.
It may be recalled here that a delegation of GB Chambers of Commerce, along with President of FPCCI had recently also called on Miftah Ismail in Karachi and requested him to resolve the issue on an urgent basis. The minister later had directed the FBR and others to hold a meeting with the traders in Islamabad on Thursday.
