PoGB Traders Continue Protests Amid Tax Dispute with Pakistan Customs

Pakistani Customs authorities have urged traders in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) to resume trade activities at the Sost dry port amid ongoing protests demanding the cessation of tax collections on imports from China, as per a past court order.

The authorities of Pakistan Customs have advised traders in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) to lift restrictions on consignments at the Sost dry port, which were imported from China, according to a report by Dawn. This comes amidst ongoing protests organized by PoGB traders.

The traders' protests aim to enforce a previous GB Chief Court order halting the collection of taxes, including sales tax and additional sales tax, on imports from China. Last month, Justice Raja Shakeel Ahmed of the PoGB Chief Court ordered the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Customs to stop collecting these taxes, noting that the region was exempted, as reported by Dawn.

For the past two weeks, local PoGB traders have been blocking the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and stalling travel, trade, and customs between Pakistan and China due to non-enforcement of the court directives. Assistant Customs Collector at Sost, Imtiaz Shigri, issued a notice to GB Importers and Exporters Association president Muhammad Iqbal on Wednesday, requesting clearance of the customs premises.

"You are hereby strongly advised to clear the occupation of customs premises and allow the normal trade activity to flow. You are also strongly advised to clear your goods so that other traders have the opportunity to use the port," the notice read, according to Dawn. Despite the notice, traders continued their sit-in outside the Sost dry port and blocked the KKH.

Traders announced that the protest would only end once their demands are met. Addressing the protesters, representatives Javed Hussain, Muhammad Abbas, Imtiaz Gilgiti, and others accused customs officials of disrespecting the order of the Chief Court and the PoGB Assembly. (ANI)