The Customs has refused permission to the registered fruit exporters to import cartons free of duty under the Duty and Tax Remission Rules for Exports (DTRE), on the grounds that cartons are simply used for packing and there is no value addition.
Khalid Ijaz of Pakistan Fruits and Vegetable Processor and Exporters Group said on Monday that he had registered his firm with the DTRE, which qualified for duty-free import of any material used in exports.
He said that the importing countries had banned shipment of Kinno in wooden crates, and were only accepting shipments properly packed in cartons to protect the fruits from contamination.
He had applied for permission for duty-free import of cartons under the DTRE, but the department had not issued permission for a month on the plea that it would seek clarification from the Central Board of Revenue (CBR).
Khalid said that before registration with the DTRE, the Collectorate of Customs assured the exporters that the DTRE was a simplified system and it facilitated the exporters, saving them from the hassle of claiming refund.
Meanwhile, export of Kinno has badly suffered due to shortage of refrigerated containers.
Besides, the foreign shipping lines have failed to meet the requirements of refrigerated containers despite promises for arranging the same.
Shamim Ahmed, a leading fruit exporter said that on an average, about 100 containers, full of Kinnos, were shipped every week, but at present their number had dwindled to 50 containers only.
Hanjin Shipping Line had pledged to make available 75 containers on Saturday last, but it failed to make the supplies.
A shipping line spokesman said that the refrigerated containers were in short supply due to heavy rush of shipments from the Far East to the Gulf and the Middle East.
"The volume of imports into Pakistan is not enough to meet the requirements of exporters during the fruit export season," he said.
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