ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: The government on Wednesday exempted 345 major export-oriented industries from the levy of sales tax on consumption of electricity to make their goods competitive on the world markets.

The decision was announced through a sales tax notification SRO792 issued here on Wednesday, indicating the name of manufacturers which have been accorded this facility in the first phase.

The exemption would be available on the electricity consumed in manufacturing of goods — textile, leather, sports, carpets and surgical goods, which had already been zero rated for sales tax purpose in the budget of 2005-06.

For availing the facility, the facility of zero per cent sales tax on these companies would be subject to the following conditions, the electricity connection is in the name of the registered person and electricity bill issued by electricity provider contains the name and the sales tax registration number of such person; in case where the electricity connection is not in the name of such person the registration number of such person is mentioned in the electricity bill along with the address of such person as given by him in his application for sales tax registration; and the electricity is consumed only in the manufacture of goods specified in Notification No SRO621 of 2005 issued on June 17, 2005.

The list of 345 companies is placed on CBR website (www.cbr.gov.pk).