LAHORE: Pakistan Industrial & Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has urged the government to withdraw 1% import duty on coal immediately. Otherwise, it would not only create problems for industrial sector but would also affect the government’s endeavors to promote alternate energy sources.
In a press statement issued here, Chairman PIAF Malik Tahir Javed said that imposition of duty on coal is a sheer injustice towards the industrial sector. He said that industrial sector is predominant consumer of coal because of severe gas shortage in the country. He said that many industries switched to coal due to unavailability of gas.
He said that imposition of 1% import duty on coal would nullify the positive initiatives of the government to use coal as an alternative energy source.
Malik Tahir Javed said that industrial sector has spent millions of dollars to switch their plants from costly furnace oil to coal in order to bring down its input cost and to make its produces internationally competitive.
Chairman PIAF said that imposition of import duty on main source of fuel for industry would give advantage to our competitors in the international market. It would also bleak the prospects to get full advantage of GSP Plus status to Pakistan from the European Union.
He said that industrial sector was already facing various issues, imposition of import duty on coal would worsen the situation.
He said given the energy crisis the government is keenly involved in creating alternative energy sources in the country therefore, import duty on coal should be withdrawn immediately.
They urged the Federal Finance Minister and Chairman FBR to take notice of the situation and issue necessary directions in this regard.
