Increase in Car Prices Boosts Black Market Sales of Non-Custom Paid Vehicles in Balochistan

Islamabad:Due to the continuous devaluation of the Pakistani Rupee and rising taxes, car prices in the country are increasing rapidly. In particular, the price of 660cc, 4 to 5-year-old cars now ranges between 2 to 3 million Pakistani Rupees, while 10-year-old vehicles are priced between 1.2 to 2 million rupees. This hike in car prices has led to a surge in the buying and selling of non-custom paid (NCP) vehicles, which are often imported illegally through the Afghan border.

NCP vehicles are brought into Pakistan illegally via Afghanistan and are then distributed to various parts of the country through Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa borders. In Balochistan, the trade of these vehicles is openly ongoing, with numerous showrooms displaying NCP vehicles. Additionally, young people are using social media platforms to advertise and sell these cars.

A new business model has emerged among the youth of Balochistan, where they now offer home delivery services for non-custom paid vehicles. This service, locally known as *”Poonch,”* involves the transportation of these vehicles from border areas to customers’ doorsteps.

Speaking to *V News*, a person involved in the NCP vehicle trade explained that the process begins with the illegal transportation of the vehicles across the Afghan border into Balochistan’s border areas, where buyers are already waiting. In some cases, the buyers themselves transport the vehicles from Quetta to other parts of the country. However, many young people now operate as *Poonch* workers, arranging for the home delivery of these vehicles.

The process, according to the source, involves first obtaining the customer’s location, after which the vehicle is delivered to their doorstep. Upon delivery, the buyer pays both the cost of the vehicle and a delivery fee to the person responsible for the *Poonch* service.

One of the individuals involved in the *Poonch* business mentioned that the fees for transporting NCP vehicles vary based on their destination. Transporting a vehicle from the Afghan border to Quetta costs between 20,000 to 30,000 rupees, while sending it from Quetta to Punjab ranges from 60,000 to 70,000 rupees. Delivering vehicles to Islamabad or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can cost between 100,000 to 150,000 rupees.

The increase in unemployment in Balochistan has led many young people to take up this business, which continues to grow due to its high profit potential.

Taimoor Khan, a *Poonch* worker, explained to *V News* that the process starts with the customer placing an order for a specific vehicle. The vehicle is then purchased from the Afghan border, brought to Quetta, and kept there for 1 or 2 days. The vehicle is then prepared for transport, with payments made to bypass checkposts along the way. The *Poonch* workers are given specific times to cross these checkposts, and if the vehicle is not delivered within that time frame, the official in charge is not held responsible. Once all the checkposts are cleared, the vehicle is delivered to the buyer’s specified location.

Taimoor further revealed that many young people in Balochistan are joining this business due to the growing unemployment in the province. While the job is challenging, the high profits have attracted many to this line of work.

Despite efforts by the government and customs officials to seize non-custom paid vehicles daily, the business continues to thrive, fueled by corruption among certain officials that allow the trade to persist.