Draft SAARC Motor Vehicles deal to be placed before cabinet today

The proposed SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement will be placed before today's (Monday) cabinet meeting for approval without necessary scrutiny by agencies concerned to fix fees and charges for transportation of cargoes and passengers.
Sources said the draft agreement which was supposed to be discussed with all related ministries and agencies was finalised hurriedly for placing it in next SAARC summit to be held in Nepal from November 22-27.
They said inspection on the draft has been necessary to fix up fees and charges for transporting different kinds of cargoes and goods through the country.
The draft SAARC Motor Vehicles agreement was prepared by the experts of the member countries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) during different meetings since 2010. The final draft was approved in the fifth inter-governmental group meeting on transport which was held on September 30, 2013.
Sources said due to not getting the draft in time, the ministry of road transport and bridges (MRTB) could not hold necessary meetings with ministries concerned to get their comments in this connection.
They said the ministry held two inter-ministerial meetings after receiving the draft from the SAARC secretariat but sent letters to different ministries and the National Board of Revenue for their comments.
But none of these ministries except the NBR responded to the letter.
However, officials of the NBR and the ministry of foreign affairs alleged that the MRTB did not take enough time and follow right procedures to finalise the draft agreement.
 "We have fears for the skipping of the transit agreement which has been shelved for several years in the name of the SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement," said an official preferring not to be named.
The transit agreement between Bangladesh and India remained shelved following conflict over transit fees and other infrastructure issues.
In the summary paper, the MRTB also cleared its position to the cabinet saying that holding adequate inter-ministerial meetings was not possible as per the rules of business for not getting the report from the inter-governmental group in time.
It also said the ministry also not received the comments from different ministries in time which was necessary to determine fees and charges for transporting cargoes under the motor vehicles agreement.
However, the ministry officials preferring not to be named said the SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement is like a framework agreement and fees and charges will be fixed up after discussion.
The NBR in its comment on the proposed agreement said that 'charges may be levied for the transportation of cargo in commensurate with administration expenses entailed by transit cargo or with the cost of services rendered."
The draft SAARC Motor Vehicle Agreement proposes provisions including allowing operation of cargo vehicles, passenger vehicles and personal vehicles among the member states. Authorised operators will be allowed to operate cargo, passenger vehicles on permit.
Step to sign the agreement was taken following a decision by heads of the states or government of SAARC members during the 15th summit in Colombo in 2008.  

[email protected]