The National Highway Authority (NHA) has urged the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) command in Afghanistan to pay Rs 30 billion as compensation for road usage in Pakistan by the Nato containers and tankers, Business Recorder has learnt reliably.
NHA is of the view that containers and tankers carrying goods for Nato are using about 1200 kilometers of Coastal Highway, Indus Highway and Quetta-Chamman Highway. Well-placed sources in the NHA on Saturday revealed that the NHA is proposing compensation for maintenance and up-gradation of these highways to protect the huge investment in roads.
Entire logistics to Nato and other international forces in Afghanistan are being supplied through Pakistan, but even after a decade no payment was made for use of highways, sources maintained. When contacted Chairman NHA, Chaudhry Altaf confirmed that a report including roads details about maintenance, rehabilitation's and up-gradation has already been sent to Nato.
"We have asked for compensation of road usage", said Altaf, adding that no reply has yet been received. He said that a compensation of Rs 5 billion per annum has been requested from Nato for maintenance of these roads. He further said that the authority has also asked for Rs 25 billion for up-gradation of these roads as the authority was facing financial crunch and unable to up-grade these roads. Altaf said that due to plying of massive vehicles through these national highways, the authority has suffered a huge loss in shape of rehabilitation and maintenance cost but it has yet to receive compensation from Nato.
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