SIALKOT: Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry(SCCI) President Majid Raza Bhutta has expressed grave concern over the inordinate delay in the payments of the duty drawback, income and sales tax refunds claims of Sialkot exporters by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
He said that the inordinate delay in these payments was irking the Sialkot exporters, as this delaying was also creating hurdles in the promotion of exports from Sialkot, the Pakistan’s export-oriented city.
He stated this while addressing an important joint meeting of the Sialkot’s all the main trade bodies held at SCCI here today.
SCCI President revealed that the non-payment of these refunds claims of Sialkot exporters by the FBR was posing serious threats of financial crunch to Sialkot industries, saying that the national exports of Pakistan were declining due to the lack of the business-friendly trade policies in Pakistan by the government and the alleged sluggish aptitude of the concerned governmental departments towards the Sialkot exporters and Sialkot’s industries as well.
Majid Raza Bhutta demanded some trade and export-related incentives for Sialkot industries and hurdle-free measures by the government for the promotion of Sialkot exports as well.
He said that unsatisfactory law and order situation in Pakistan, prevailing political unrest, unending energy crisis, inflated utility bills and levy of the heavy taxes by the federal and provincial governments have already put the national industrial sector in “hot waters” here.
During the meeting, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and Sialkot’s all the other main trade bodies urged the government to ensure the early payment of the prolonged pending and much delayed refund and duty drawback claims (worth billions of rupees) of Sialkot exporters, enabling them to struggle hard for the promotion of exports with full devotion, dedication, enthusiasm and complete peace of mind as well.
