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APTMA's
role in textile and exports
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Black sheep sabotaging good
economic policies
By AMANULLAH BASHAR
Aug 07 - 13, 2000
Inspite of Industry's and present government's desire to promote
textile production and exports, the local textile industry continues to be hindered due to
operational problems which urgently need to be removed by the government.
This was observed at a recent meeting organized by All Pakistan Textile
Mills Association (APTMA). There was a feeling among the participants of the meeting that
some black sheep present in the government machinery are bent upon to sabotage the
productivity of some good economic decisions. Issuance of SROs and notifications counter
productive to the government policies were the best example of such elements creating
hindrance for economic growth in the country.
This Press briefing was organized to brief about the problems faced by
the textile industry especially on the eve of the new textile policy, which is likely to
be announced on August 12.
Elaborating the situation, Mirza Ikhtiar Beg, spokesman of APTMA said
that after six consecutive years of crop failure, the year 1999-2000 saw a production of
10 million bales of cotton. Due to significant cotton availability at reasonable prices,
the textile industry turned around profitability increased in production and exports were
visible. Return to profitability has led to ploughing back of profits resulting in
investment in BMR of $500 million. For the year 2000-2001 an investment of over one
billion dollar is expected.
Regarding the present set up of the economic managers in the country,
APTMA feels that they are competent yet the implementation of the policy is generally
failed to be translated, in letter fand spirit especially in the SROs and notifications
issued by the CBR.
Pointing out the problems faced by the industry, Ikhtiar Beg said that
a large number of refund claims of textile industry are pending since January/February
2000 blocking a huge amount of textile units. This uncalled for delay is seriously
affecting the liquidity as well as the viability of the textile units. He suggested that
since 90 per cent cotton consumed within the country is exported in one form or the other,
cotton should be exempted from payment of sales tax and the sales tax chain should start
from the spinning (yarn manufacturing). The exporters of yarn, cloth, made ups and other
textile should be allowed to clear their goods in Forms similar to Central Excise Form
AR-3.
He said that new sales tax rules notified vide SRO 417(1)2000 dated
June 20, 2000 are very lengthy and cumbersome. The rules not only ask for volume of
documents to consider sales tax refund claims but also provide extraordinary discretionary
powers to sales tax offices to scrutinize the genuine of the claims. Stage wise refund
have been provided in these rules and only 50 per cent of the claims amount is payable
after 3 days and the rest over long period subject to verification and audit. Hence the
new rules will block the liquidity and choke the cash flow of the exporters.
It is proposed that SRO 417(1) 2000 should be suspended till September
30, 2000 and to make the rules workable, new refund rules should be formulated in
consultation with the representatives of exporters.
INCOME TAX: The Income Tax Department is also adding to the
liquidity problems by not releasing even the determined Refunds on one pretext or the
other. He urged the government that all determined refunds should be released without any
delay.
The government created two zones for textile industry at Karachi and
Lahore. These zones will look after the matters relating to textile industry including
issuance of exemption certificates U/S 50(4) and 50(5) of the Income Tax Ordinance 1979.
This arrangement will create lot of problems for the textile units located in many areas
other than Karachi or Lahore, some of which are far-flung and remote areas. Under the new
arrangements, personnel of the mills will have to commute to the zones from far-flung
areas. It may be noted that powers to issue tax exemption certificates have been withdrawn
from all zones from July 1, 2000 although the newly created zones have not yet started
operations at Karachi and Lahore.
Suggestions
APTMA suggested that powers to issue tax exemption certificates and
carry out other tax related business should be allowed to be handed by income tax officers
at Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar and other cities where offices of the
textile mills are located.
He also regretted that despite the assurances held out by the Governor
State Bank of Pakistan regarding withdrawal of Refinance Facility from Grey Fabrics, the
issue is still hanging and the exporters are disturbed and feel that this will seriously
affect the exports.
It may be mentioned that government had announced withdrawal of
refinance facility from Grey fabrics in trade policy announced on June 29, 2000. To
implement the decision SBP issued a circular on June 30 excluding all types of cloth
falling under Harmonized Code from the purview of exports Refinance Scheme including
Bleached, Dyed, Printed and Denim fabrics. Denim Fabrics is a significant value added
item.
When APTMA brought the issue to the notice of Governor SBP, he agreed
and confirmed that denim fabric is a value added item and assured to discuss the matter
with the minister, however no decision in this regard has been taken so far.
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