KARACHI, July 4: The collectorate of customs (exports) Karachi, has registered a substantial increase of 20 per cent in exports to $8.1 billion in 2002-03 as against $6.7 billion a year ago, according to official sources.

In this way the collectorate has contributed around 74 per cent to the record exports of over $10 billion achieved for the first time in country’s history.

The textiles and textile made-ups dominated exports claiming huge share of 66 per cent, followed by leather and leather products, rice, sports goods, surgical instruments, foods and vegetables.

Similarly, the ten top leading buyers of Pakistani products largely remained unchanged, with US leading, followed by the UAE, UK, Hong Kong, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Netherlands, South Korea and China.

The collectorate of customs, Karachi, also entertained and processed 11.85 per cent more duty drawback claims at 205,346 during fiscal 2002-03, compared to 183,583 during last year. An amount of Rs10.4bn was paid as duty drawback compared to Rs16.1bn paid a year ago.

According to official sources, factors for a decrease in payment of duty drawback during outgoing fiscal (2002-03) had been huge liquidation of pendency in fiscal 2001-02 and rationalization of duty drawback rates as well as reduction in customs tariff.

The introduction of Duty and Tax Remission for Exporters (DTRE) rules is expected to give unprecedented level of remission of duties and taxes to exporters. Exporters registered under the DTRE scheme will not have to pay any amount of duties or taxes at import stage and are allowed to procure raw material from local market at zero-rated sales tax.

The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has removed all concerns shown by the business community over the DTRE rules and once the scheme starts it shall prove to be yet another milestone and achievement of the government, sources said.

During the outgoing fiscal the export collectorate, Karachi took several other measures to facilitate export trade. Now exporters have to file a single administrative document for exports and the procedure has been fully computerized.

An all out effort is being made for the automation and computerization of the customs department which will further enhance the level of facilitation and efficiency. Presently, the export collectorate is providing round the clock service for processing of documents and examination of goods.