KARACHI, Feb 12: The State Bank has asked all banks to furnish details of imports of raw and refined sugar. In a letter written to all banks, the central bank has asked them to provide on weekly basis such information about import of raw and refined sugar as the name of importer; amount and date of establishment of letters of credit; quantity of import; last date of shipment; and the expected date of arrival.

The SBP has also asked the banks to give their own remarks in their weekly reports on sugar imports.

The central bank has asked the banks to furnish details about the imports of both raw and refined sugar.

It has advised them to furnish the first such report on February 14, 2005. These reports should include data "pertaining to all transactions of import of raw sugar previously allowed by the SBP under the government approved quota as well as those opened under the free import policy allowed on February 8, 2005."

A Karachi-based importing firm Seatrade (Pvt) Limited has already opened letters of credit for importing 200,000 tons of raw sugar for February-March shipment and 15,000 tons of refined sugar for April shipment.