LAHORE: The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has moved a summary to the CM Secretariat to exempt import of defence and UN procurements and clearance of belongings of diplomatic missions from the ‘controversial’ Punjab Infrastructure Development Cess.

The PRA is already facing resistance from importers and exporters, customs clearing agents and transporters for collection of 0.9 per cent PIDC on transshipments into and out of Punjab and clearance of air cargo at Punjab-based international airports. The cess is being collected since May 25 with the help of Customs department at all dry ports of the province.

They said the decision had been taken after PRA was approached by the ministries that the Customs officials have started collecting cess on import of defence-related equipment/parts and appurtenance of diplomats and UN officials at Punjab and Islamabad airports and dry-ports of the province.

Sources said the though supplies of petroleum products have already been exempted, the authority had no such plans to exempt the other imported goods despite strikes by Customs clearing agents and goods transporters in the recent past.

Sources said that after the approval of summary by the Punjab’s chief minister, the PRA would issue a notification of exemption under Section 6 of Punjab Infra­structure Development Cess Act 2015. Informed sources in PRA told Dawn on Saturday that the summary moved on June 15 would be approved by the provincial chief executive in the backdrop of directions from the ministries concerned and international conventions Pakistan signed not to tax UN and diplomatic missions.

LCCI: The Lahore Cham­ber of Commerce and Indus­try has again urged the Punjab government to withdraw PIDC in the larger interest of trade and industry.

LCCI President Sheikh Mohammad Arshad in a statement said that the government should take a decision immediately so that unrest among businessmen could come to an end.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2016