KARACHI, Oct 20: The Member, Customs, Central Board of Revenue (CBR), Ramzan Bhatti has warned that the board may opt for other options if exporters do not register themselves under Duty and Tax Remission for Exports (DTRE) rules.

“If it was felt necessary, the CBR could make amendment to check undue benefits being availed by exporters under the SRO 410, and there after, I am sure no body would seek for its extension,” he asserted.

The member customs was speaking at a workshop on “DTRE” rules organized by Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) to discuss lacunas and flaws, if any, in the rules. The workshop was held late Saturday evening at a local hotel.

For the last couple of years the DTRE rules had been under severe criticism from exporters, and, from time to time, changes and amendments were also made to make them pragmatic. However, in the last budget the CBR made further amendments and fixed Sept 30, 2003, as last date for the expiry of SRO410 and implementation of DTRE rules.

The PRGMEA came well prepared and in order to express their views and register their apprehensions about the DTRE rules used slides under the title of ‘frequently asked questions.’ After that there was lengthy question and answer session from the largely attended participants representing various segment of export trade.

The member, customs, who was assisted by Shehzada Tahir Zaman Director, DTRE, Javed Kazi, Collector Customs Export and Dr Wasif Ali Memon, Additional Collector Exports, did their best to satisfy exporters.

The PRGMEA team was headed by its chairman Tahir Aziz and vice chairman Paracha and Abdul Wahid Bandukda, chairman, Sales Tax, sub-committee PRGMEA.

Almost all the questions from exporters were satisfactorily replied by the official team and ultimately there was no such point left which could justify that the DTRE rules could not be enforced from January 1, 2004.

Immediately after the conclusion of the question and answer session and feeling assured that the exporters have exhausted their ‘fire power’ and no tangible objection was left against the DTRE rules, Ramzan Bhatti sounded a warning: “If you do not register under DTRE rules CBR has other options and if needed be could be used.”

Ramzan Bhatti who kept his cool throughout the workshop and gave a patience hearing to all the apprehensions and fears expressed by exporters against the DTRE rules further said: “CBR knows that SRO410 gives you undue benefits and if these are removed through an amendment no exporter would seek further extension in the SRO.”

However, the member customs extended his full cooperation and assured that any problem arising in the process of implementation of DTRE rules would be immediately attended to by the CBR. He further said, as the SRO410 is valid upto December 31, 2003, any other issue or problem might pointed out by exporters during this period could be accommodated and if needed be an amendment could also be made in the rules.

Above all, he said that if any exporter do not want to get registered under DTRE can always opt for normal scheme under which full payment of taxes and duties at import stage could be made for clearing goods meant for re-export.