RAWALPINDI, Sept 29: The soda ash industry has voiced serious concern about the import of soda ash from Ukraine and China at dumping price. The import has been attributed to cut in import duty to 10 per cent in the budget in June this year, industry sources explained.

So far, these sources say, over 15000 tons have been imported from China alone. Compared to the cut by Pakistan, India is still maintaining 37pc duty.

Justifying their point that the import of soda ash unjust the sources said total annual soda ash demand in the country was around 270,000 tons, against the installed production capacity of 290,000 tons, if the closed capacity of Sind Alkalis is not taken into account.

A reduction in duty in 1997/98 resulted in the closure of Sind Alkalis, which was Pakistan’s second largest producer after ICI and has been operating since 1970’s. Sind Alkalis was privatized in 1992 and was bought by its workers.

ICI is the major producer of Soda ash. Its Khewra factory, which was set up in 1943 and where commercial production started in 1944, has the capacity of 225,000 tons per annum now, but it has the ability to produce 233,000 tons. It is the biggest buyer of salt from the Khewra Salt mines and major source of employment to people of this small town. A number of health, education and environment projects are also run by ICI soda ash factory in Khewra and its suburbs.

Giving briefing to newsmen at Khewra during a visit to soda ash plant ICI vice president Pervez A. Khan said despite the murky political situation and inconsistency in policies, ICI Pakistan has invested Rs40 billion from 1995 to 2002.

Mr Pervaiz underlined the need for consistency in policies, although the changes had no bad impact on the industries because the government had never interfered in affairs.

Works manager S.M.Irfan Aqeel, electrical and instrument manager Khurram Q. Malik, human resource manager Saeed A Hussain and manager public affairs Ghazala Qureshi were also present in the briefing. The ICI is a group of companies including soda ash plant, Khewra, polyurethane blending plant, agrochemical formulation plant, paintex located in different regions of the country.

Vice president Soda ash stressed on the government to keep the prices of gas at low for industrial consumption. Industries can survive only if gas rates are kept at reasonable limit, he said.

Mr Pervaiz said the plant has focused special attention to save the area from pollution.