May 8, 2002	Wednesday	Safar 24, 1423

ISLAMABAD, May 7: The government has decided to do away with all time-bound exemptions and regulatory import duties without further extension.

Official sources told Dawn that around five customs time bound notifications to be deleted in the budget 2002.

The notifications to lapse during the budget included SRO576 of 1999; SRO531 of 2000; SRO123 of 2001; SRO 320 of 2001 and SRO 410 of 2001.

The International Monetary Fund had asked the government that no new exemptions regarding customs duties or no new regulatory import duties to be imposed except for the anti- dumping measures.

The officials, however, said that the exemptions will remain intact for existing contracts and exemptions based on international commitments and except for customs duty and income tax exemptions for the shipping industry.

Meanwhile, the government has allowed exporters to avail the facility of ‘no duty and no drawback’ on exports to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs).

The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has issued a notification amending the rules of Duty and Tax Remission for Exports (DTRE) scheme here on Tuesday.

According to the notification, the manufacturers working under DTRE scheme have been allowed to export their goods to Afghanistan and CARs via land route.

Under the scheme, the exporters will import raw materials without the payment of duty on it, which would be exclusively used in the manufacturing of those goods for its subsequent exports.

The government had recently allowed the zero duty exports to Afghanistan and CARs, except for six items, on which exporters could not claim the duty drawback facility.

Officials in the CBR said that as many exporters had opted for the DTRE scheme, therefore, it was felt necessary that the same facility should also be allowed on export to Afghanistan and CARs.

The officials said that the decision has been taken following the demands of exporters, and in consultation with the ministry of commerce.