JALALABAD - Owners and traders of petrol stations have closed down their businesses as a mark of protest over high tax rates in eastern Laghman province, an official said on Saturday. All pump stations in the province had been shut down for the past three days, Laghman Petrol Stations Union chief Sharifullah told Pajhwok Afghan News. He said they used to pay 3,000 afghanis in tax on 30,000 litres of fuel until recently. However, now they have to pay 24,000 afghanis on the same amount. “If our demand for tax reduction is not met, we will contuinue our protest.” The tax hike was introduced in 2008 in line with a cabinet decision to increase domestic revenue, said provincial mayor, Haji Abdullah Moqim. But the enforcement of the decision was delayed following an order from then governor, Lotfullah Mashal. The same could happen if sitting Governor Mohammad Iqbal Azizi or cabinet issued a similar direction, Moqim said. Mohammad Ajmal, owner of a fuel station, said he his business had been closed for the past couple of days. However, he said vehicles could go to Surkhakan on Kabul-Jalalabad highway for fueling.
