KARACHI, Jan 20: A consignment of rolled galvanized steel corrugated sheets imported from India by the Edhi Foundation for building shelters for those affected by the earthquake are held up at the Karachi Port, as the CBR has levied all the regular duties and taxes amounting around Rs50 million despite the request for exemption made by the Foundation.

A senior official of the Edhi Foundation told Dawn a ship carrying 419 tonnes of galvanized iron sheets from India anchored at the port on Jan 13 followed by a second ship carrying 1,077 tonnes of galvanized sheets docked at the port on Jan 18.

The cargo imported from India has been off loaded from the two ships and is lying at the Karachi Port, Rizwan Edhi said.

He said that in response to a letter of the Edhi Foundation seeking an exemption of excise duty, the Central Board of Revenue, turned down the request, in a letter No C.No 1 (94) STT/94 dated Dec 27, 2005, “CBR regrets its inability to accede to the request in view of government’s considered policy not to grant any new special exemption”.

Rizwan Edhi said that following the Oct 8th quake, the Foundation purchased over 6,000 iron sheets and pipes from the markets of Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

Shortly after, the stock was exhausted and prices sky rocketed of whatever little sheets were left in the market, he said.

He feared prolong delay at the port may damage the cargo putting to waste our limited resources. He said that import would become meaningless if these sheets kept lying at the port and people freeze to death in the quake affected areas.

Once the winter season is over and this consignment remains stranded at the port it would be of no use, as these sheets are required primarily for the winter season. With the on set of the summer, tents would be required for the affected people, Edhi said.

He said that Abdul Sattar Edhi had talked over the issue a few days back with the Federal Relief Commissioner General Farooq, who had assured an early release of the held up consignment. However, that assurance had not materialized as yet, he added.