KARACHI, Dec 13: The incentives offered by the federal government on the import of large buses are being withdrawn this month.

This was disclosed by Karachi Nazim Naimatullah Khan at a ceremony held at the Karachi Port Trust, West Wharf, on Friday on the eve of arrival of 32 large Scania buses.

He, however, requested Governor Mohammedmian Soomro, the chief guest at the ceremony, to use his good offices in persuading Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali to extend the period of incentive by another five years.

The city Nazim recalled that the federal government had offered the incentives, mainly exemption in import duty and certain other taxes, on import of large buses following the introduction of the Urban Transport Scheme in Punjab.

The governor assured the City Nazim that he would take up the issue with the prime minister.

Official sources pointed out that Punjab had imported large buses and had sought a waiver in the import duty and sales tax, which was approved by the federal government.

According to the sources, since the Punjab government had temporarily stopped the import of large buses, the federal government intended to withdraw the facility which would ultimately deprive the other provinces of the benefit from the incentive.

If the period of incentives is not extended, the Sindh government’s efforts at improving the transport sector would be hampered seriously, the sources indicated.