KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): A plan is being devised to register thousands of non-customs-paid (NCP) vehicles in southeastern Khost province, officials say.
The Khost Traffic Department estimates at 50,000 the number of NCP vehicles in the province. About 30,000 of these vehicles are in Khost City, the provincial capital.
Most of the NCP automobiles are imported in parts and sold domestically cheaper than register cars. Their registration can significantly contribute to government revenue.
Khost Governor Hakam Khan Habibi told Pajhwok Afghan News they had requested the central government for assistance in registering the illegal vehicles.
“I am sure some people would face problems in registering their vehicles, but they should accept the law, whose enforcement is our responsibility,” the governor remarked.
In 2011, the Council of Ministers set a six-month deadline for the registration of all NCP vehicles across the country.
But the owners of the cars did not take the warning seriously, as most of the vehicles remain unregistered to date.
However, Habibi asserted his administration’s resolve to document the NCP vehicles in compliance the 2011 decision of the cabinet.
The governor urged the people to stop importing and buying illegal vehicles and let the administration deal with the issue of unregistered vehicles in the province.
He thought the registration of illegal cars in Khost would help reduce ubiquitous traffic jams and enforce law more effectively in cities.
Khost police chief Brig. Gen. Faizullah Ghairat also said they were trying to document the NCP vehicles in a proper way.
“We are awaiting directives from the Ministry of Interior to take action on the issue and prevent illegal vehicles from plying roads in the province,” he explained.
Meanwhile, provincial council head Abdul Wali Wahidzai urged the government to take decisive action against illegal vehicles.
“With the registration of these vehicles, assets of people would be protected and security forces would better control the situation,” he argued. Wahidzai added the only way to control NCP vehicles in Khost was to prevent their imports.
Khost inhabitants hailed the government’s action against illegal vehicles, hoping their registration would boost the government’s income in addition to solving people’s problems.
Resident Mohammad Nazir asked the government to set a reasonable deadline for the registration of illegal vehicles. He said registering 50,000 vehicles needed a pretty long time.
Experts believe the registration of illegal vehicles would add to government revenue besides bringing down the crime graph. Such vehicles are said to be used in attacks and other offences.
mds/mud
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