KARACHI: Soap manufacturers have severely criticised the valuation ruling issued for assessment of raw material by the Pakistan Customs.
The soap manufacturers have also threatened the department of moving court if it did not withdraws the valuation ruling.
The authorities issued Customs valuation on December 22 for determination of Linear Alkyle Benzene Sulphonic Acid (basic raw material for soap and detergent manufacturing) and fixed it at $1,250 metric tons for determination of duty and taxes at the time of clearance.
The import value fixed by the Customs; however, was criticised by Pakistan Soap Manufacturers Association (PSMA), as they said prices fixed were abnormally higher than the prevailing prices in the international markets.
“The international prices revolve from $950/MT to $1,050MT on the basis of origin,” said PSMA Chairman Abdullah Zaki.
During a meeting of commercial importers and manufacturers with the Customs authorities on December 17 it was agreed that assessable value of the raw material imported from all origins would be at $1,160/MT. “If the valuation ruling was not withdrawn immediately, the association will go to the court of law,” he added.
