ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: The government has put restrictions on six exportable items to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs) under duty drawback scheme via land route.

The items, on export of which duty drawback facility and duty exemption from sales tax and central excise duty would not be available to exporters included: cigarettes, dyes and chemical products, yarn all types, PVC materials, polyester materialized film and ball bearings, reliable sources told Dawn on Saturday.

While in case of the POL products only the public sector companies were allowed to export furnace oil and diesel oil to Afghanistan and CARs, while the same could not be carried out by the private sector.

These items have already been cleared by the Central Board of Revenue, to be allowed at zero rate of duty to Afghanistan and CARs.

The sources said the government had allowed duty drawback facility and zero duties on export of all items to Afghanistan and CARs to take active part in the reconstruction of that country.

An official source in the Ministry of Commerce said exporters, after fulfilling all the laid down conditions, would be eligible for the normal duty drawback. The decision has been taken in principle, however, notification in this connection will be issued by the ministry shortly, the official said.

The export to Afghanistan will be allowed against Pakistani rupee until the establishment of a banking channel in that country.

According to the sources, the government has also allowed exports of the items manufactured in the manufactured bonds to Afghanistan and CARs.

Elaborating further, the sources said the government would give the facility of manufacturing bond on export to Afghanistan and CARs on land routes to all items, excluding vegetable ghee and cooking oil and the above mentioned items.

The exporters are, however, allowed to claim duty drawback facility on export of vegetable ghee and cooking oil on land route to Afghanistan and CARs.

On the other hand, exporters are also allowed to claim duty drawback as well as manufacturing bond facility on all items if exported to Afghanistan and CARs by sea and air, excluding those, which were not allowed under schedule 1 of the export policy and procedure order 2000 to any country.

These are intoxicants and intoxicating liquors; endangered wildlife species and animal/birds, etc., protected under any provincial wildlife act; charcoal and firewood; wood and timber; antiquities; counterfeit products; anti-personal landmines; fissional material; acetic anhydride and certain chemicals with potential of use for chemical weapons.

The decision was taken at the request of the Afghan importers, who were not happy at the export of 33 kinds of items on zero rate of duty to Afghanistan.

They requested the Pakistani government that they needed a variety of items to kick start the rebuilding of their country.