KARACHI: Exporters have urged the government to immediately start accepting and processing claims for incremental rebate incentive scheme announced in the federal budget 2014-15.

After a long delay, the Ministry of Commerce issued SRO-177 in February this year for the scheme and exporters were given deadline of March 31 that was extended later to May 15.

Unfortunately, the ministry of commerce has not so far decided the procedures for processing the incremental rebate claims.

Pakistan Leather Garments Manu­fac­turers and Exporters Association (Plgmea) chairman Atif Ashraf said that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and other government departments have refused to process the incremental rebate claims of exporters which was causing unrest among exporters.

Under the said scheme leather exporters were supposed to get 4 per cent incremental rebate incentive.

According to 2014-15 budget announcement, different categories of exports, including textiles, home textiles, made-ups, leather goods, were to get 2-4 per cent rebate on 10pc incremental increase in exports.

Shabir Ahmed, chairman, Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association (PBEA), was critical of the government and said that each government comes up with incentive schemes, but fails to implement them.

Towel Manufacturers Association (TMA) chairman Mehmood Rangoonwala urged the government not to burden exporters with additional taxes in the new budget.

He feared that the government plans to enhance rate of sales tax on five zero-rated export sectors from 2 to 5pc.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2015

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