SIALKOT: The Sialkot based traders, industrialists and exporters expressed grave concern over the inordinate delay in the payment of sales tax refund and duty drawback claims, and said that the delay was halting the flow of capital in the industries. They said that delay has been leaving very bad effects on the industrial production.
They added that the business community’s customs rebate funds, sales tax refund and duty drawback claims worth Rs 5 billion had been lying pending with Customs Collectorate Sialkot and at Regional Tax Office Sialkot due to which the local traders, industrialists and exporters had been suffering the shortage investment capital.
Addressing an important meeting held at SCCI Auditorium , the president Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Fazal Jillani said that the exporters had been playing an instrumental role in strengthening and boosting the national exports and economy by earning precious foreign exchange.
SCCI SVP Mir Alamgir Meyer, VP Malik Naseer Ahmed and chairman Pakistan Gloves Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PGMEA) Muhammad Younas were also present on this occasion.
SCCI president added that they were in dire need of encouragement and patronization by the government, adding that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) should help and encourage the Sialkot exporters at every level. He urged the TDAP to enable them to enhance the national exports by ensuring easy access of the exporters to the international trade markets.
SCCI president demanded early release of a special grant of Rs 14 million from Export Development Fund (EDF) for the continuity of the internationally recognized child labour elimination programme from Sialkot’s soccer ball industry and its regular monitoring under the joint supervision of IMAC, SCCI and CSDO.
Fazal Jillani narrated that Sialkot’s export industries had been lying deprived of the direly needed funds from Export Development Fund (EDF) for the last several years. These funds could help boost local industrial activities and exports from Sialkot, he added.
He said that the Sialkot exporters urged the TDAP to evolve an effective mechanism for the “proper” use of the Export Development Fund (EDF) which is meant for the promotion and development of the country’s export sector.
SCCI chief said that the Sialkot exporters deposit Rs450 million annually as EDF. Thus, they also deserve incentives for the promotion and enhancement of exports. They pointed out that Sialkot’s export industries were being ignored regarding distribution of EDF due to lack of a mechanism.
