ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers has asked the government to take note of duty-free imports of steel products by the companies affiliated with CPEC projects in sheer violence of rules and regulations.

Talking to media via a videolink from Karachi Patron-in-Chief Abbas Akberali, who is also chairman of Amreli Steels, said that despite the fact that duty-free imports of steel products were not allowed in Pakistan, but these companies were importing the same for CPEC projects.

He pointed out that ignoring iron and steel sector was damaging the PM’s initiative for the revival of construction and real estate sectors whereas the substandard products have to be streamlined.

“Even the nuts and bolts for various projects in Thar were imported from China, not only that it should be stopped but the government should also ensure quality production of various products in the country,” he remarked.

The association has also written a letter to the Ministry of Industries and Production that a critical problem faced by the steel industry was import of substandard scrap that leads to production of poor quality iron products.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2020