KARACHI, April 6: The Sales Tax Collectorate has recently launched a pilot project in Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad to ensure speedy payments of refunds to exporters. This was stated by the Collector Sales Tax and Central Excise (Enforcement) Rashid Ahmad while speaking at Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Wednesday. He said that this scheme would be extended to Peshawar, Gujranwala and Multan in next phase and then to all exporters across the country by July 1, 2005.

He pointed out that currently 200 top manufacturers-cum-exporters from all over the country have been selected for this pilot project. “About 80 per cent of the total refunds claims are filed by these exporters,” he added.

The collector said that 100 exporters out of the 200 belonged to Karachi.

He said that this scheme was based on risk profiling system under which lowest risk category (green) exporters would get priority in the refunds payments followed by yellow and red channels.

He said the previous system did not deliver the desired results and therefore this scheme had been introduced to replace the old system of refunds payment.

He said that Rs1.5 billion were remitted to exporters under this scheme.

Responding to a demand of KCCI regarding deferred payments, Mr Rashid said that the collectorate had made a payment of Rs4.5 billion to exporters against pending cases of June 2004.

Collector Sales Tax and Central Excise (Headquarters) Khalid Mahmood sought the help of KCCI in verification of exporters especially their addresses and required documents for registration.

In this regard it was decided that a meeting would be held on Monday in collaboration with KCCI to resolve this matter and avoid black listing.—APP