NATO trucks caused Rs.100 bn damage to roads: Pakistan
April 20th, 2012 - 1:03 pm ICT by IANSIslamabad, April 20 (IANS) Heavy NATO containers, trundling through Pakistan to Afghanistan, caused Rs.100 billion worth of damage to the country’s roads, said a minister.
Federal Minister for Communications Arbab Alamgir Khan Thursday said the government has taken up the issue with US officials, but America had not paid any compensation to Pakistan.
“In future, no free ride will be allowed and taxes will be imposed for the use as well as damage to our highways,” the daily Dawn qouted him as saying.
Pakistan had cut the NATO supply route to Afghanistan after 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 13 injured Nov 26 last year in NATO air strikes on two border posts in Mohmand Agency near the Afghan border.
The incident further worsened the deteriorating relationship between Washington and Islamabad, which began to strain after the covert US raid in Pakistan May 2 last year that killed Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden.
Pakistan had earlier estimated that it needs around $1.3 billion to repair the roads damaged due to heavy traffic for NATO forces in Afghanistan.
According to the findings of the government’s annual road condition survey 2011, various routes comprising 4,046 km used as NATO supply lines had suffered 26 percent damages.
- Pakistan needs $1.3 bn to repair NATO-damaged roads - Feb 11, 2012
- Pakistan mulls NATO toll tax - Apr 19, 2012
- NATO vehicles caused Rs.150 bn damage to Pakistan highways - Dec 29, 2011
- Afghan-bound NATO supply convoys caused 82bn-rupee damage to Pak roads: Minister - Nov 25, 2010
- Pakistan Taliban warns MPs against NATO supply restoration - Mar 26, 2012
- NATO containers caused Rs.82 bn damage to Pakistan roads - Nov 25, 2010
- Pakistan has permanently stopped NATO supply: Minister - Nov 28, 2011
- Probe finds NATO strike in Pakistan unintentional - Dec 22, 2011
- NA committee seeks compensation from NATO for badly damaging Pak roads - Nov 28, 2010
- Pakistan to review its foreign policy - Dec 09, 2011
- Pakistani Islamic groups oppose NATO supply lines' reopening - Jul 05, 2012
- Pakistani panel wants US to apologise for airstrike - Mar 20, 2012
- Let's go beyond the anger: US envoy to Pakistan - Dec 13, 2011
- US military trainers' have not come back: Pakistan - May 31, 2012
- No secret deal with US on NATO route reopening: Khar - Jul 05, 2012
Tags: afghan border, al qaeda, alamgir, arbab, bn, border posts, condition survey, containers, damages, dawn, federal minister, free ride, heavy traffic, highways, nato air, nato forces in afghanistan, osama bin laden, pakistan islamabad, pakistani soldiers, road condition