KARACHI, Feb 11: The Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Prgmea) has suggested that top exporters of every value-added textile sector should be selected for the new refund payment system "STREAM".

The suggestion was made by Prgmea zonal chairman Dawood Usman Jakura in a meeting with Sales Tax (enforcement) collector Rashed Ahmed. He said that of 200 top exporters selected for the STREAM there was hardly any exporter from the garment sector because they could not compete with exporters of fabrics in turnover.

The Prgmea chief said that top exporters of all trades such as garments, hosiery, towels and bed wear should be allowed to avail the modern and efficient refund payment system. The ST collector appreciated Prgmea's proposal and forwarded its point of view on STREAM to member Sales Tax Shahid Ahmed who promised to look into the matter.

Mr Jakura requested the collector to refer pending refund cases of garment exporters to the Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee for their speedy settlement. The collector asked the Prgmea side to provide list of such cases.

It was also decided that Prgmea in collaboration with the collectorate would organize a seminar on STREAM in the second week of March to create awareness among its members about the new refund system. The member sales tax and collector enforcement will supervise the seminar.