KARACHI, Sept 2: Pakistan Adhesive and Rubber Solution Manufacturers and Traders Association has said that the new import policy restricts access to, usage and sale of Toluene and MEK, that are the basic raw-materials for the adhesive and rubber solution industry.

Now, for acquiring the material, one has to go through extremely difficult procedures through different government departments. Due to the tough conditions and cumbersome procedures, the access to these basic materials has become almost impossible, which is disastrous for several export-oriented, local and cottage industries.

Association’s chairman, Dr M. Zakariya said that the subject chemicals have a wide usage and application in shoe-making, car-making, furniture, carpet, construction, paint and other industries. Apart from their usage as raw-material, these chemicals are used in their original form in shoe-making and without them shoe could not be produced.

He said shoe-making was an export-oriented industry and already facing tough competition from China and India in the local and international market. Because of the new import policy, the subject chemicals have become out-of-reach of consumers; their prices have gone up, their market stocks are depleting fast and they would soon become unavailable at all.

In a statement, he said the whole adhesive and shoe-making industry was under threat of closure. Further, the imported adhesives have started enjoying the benefits of low-tariff in customs and zero-rated sales tax. As such, the locally produced adhesives have become less competitive.

Before the new import policy, large quantities of Toluene & MEK were usually imported by commercial importers in bulk (in lots of 500-1000 tons at $650/ton) for industrial consumption. Now, the commercial import is disallowed. This would force the consumers to import it themselves in drums in small quantities (14.4 tons at $950/ton). This $300/ton surplus payment for small shipments would increase foreign exchange expenditures.

He said there should be free access and availability of these materials.