ISLAMABAD: The Writing Instruments Manufacturers Group of Pakistan said that 96 millions of led pencils are smuggled to Pakistan via ATT annually which cause millions of dollar loss to national exchequer.
According to details told by high official sources of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Writing Instruments Manufacturers Group of Pakistan wrote a letter to State Minister for Revenue Hamad Azhar and informed him about their grievances. They said the industry is facing severe hardships and as a result 2 out of 4 units have already closed down their production. Main reason of this closure is an increased led pencils smuggling into Pakistan through the Afghan Transit Trade (ATT).
The sources told that the group requested to the Minister to save the local pencil manufactures industry, and added that ‘To save government’s millions of dollars, it is necessary to impose a ban on imports of led pencils through ATT’.
The sources told that the group also provided evidence that during December FY2017-18 the total 276498 led pencils were imported through legal routes while 201375 pencils were smuggled via ATT. The percentage of smuggled pencils via ATT was 37.03% during July-December FY17-18 against the legal import of led pencils.
The sources informed that since imposition of anti-dumping duty by the National Tariff Commission (NTC), pencils are now being smuggled into Pakistan through misuse of Afghan Transit Trade.
