ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has criticized the government for allowing import of finished steel products from India which would adversely affect the local industries.

ICCI President Abdul Rauf in a statement issued on Wednesday said that commerce ministry issued the notification in this regard without taking the stakeholders into confidence.

While talking to a delegation of Islamabad Steel Association (ISA) led by its President Mian Akram Farid, he said that the SRO, permitting the import of finished steel products, did not give details of goods to be imported.

He further said that the GI sheets were needed for rehabilitation of the quake-affected people but the SRO was not clear on specification of products due to which people would import many steel items flooding the local market with unwanted goods. “We are afraid that local re-rolling industry and furnace industry will be most affected,”, he remarked. He appealed to the president, commerce minister and the CBR chairman to take notice of the confusion caused by permitting import of finished steel goods and issue amendments to the said SRO.

ISA president Mian Akram Farid said that the government always consulted chambers and the federation before issuing SROs but it was not done this time and the SRO was issued which would damage the re-rolling and furnace industry.

The importers would take advantage of the SRO and instead of importing GI sheets, would import iron rods, angles, guarders and other finished goods.

He further said that there were nearly 500 steel industries in Pakistan in which hundreds and thousands of people are employed.