APCMA backs customs SCS enforcement: government urged to resolve cement export impediments

Cement makers will support re-enforcement of Supervised Clearance System (SCS), while the Government should resolve illogical impediments in exports especially to Afghanistan; said All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers' Association (APCMA) in a statement issued here on Tuesday.
The spokesman of APCMA categorically denied any misdeclaration by its members and said that as representative of cement manufacturing units across Pakistan, APCMA fully supports the government to reinstate the supervision would even welcome supervised clearance for local dispatches as well. He added that the supervised clearance system woud curb the possibilities of tax evasion and facilitate to compile correct information of the industry regarding its production, sales and exports.
He assured that APCMA members would extend full support to the government and facilitate Excise Inspectors or any firm at the border posts in the larger interest of the country. Highlighting the problems in cement exports, the spokesman urged the government to resolve the issue of Gumrak on urgent basis, which is hampering cement exports.
He said that customs authorities demand original document of Gumrak, an Afghan Customs document allowing the duty drawback on cement exports to Afghanistan, which is illogical as the original document is retained by Afghani authorities and only Gumrak's photocopy is available with the exporters. He urged the government to permanently resolve the pending cases due to non-availability of original Gumrak. The spokesman hoped that this measure will help the government and cement industry to ascertain and facilitate cement exports to Afghanistan which are on the rise, posting 16.8 percent growth to reach 2.818 million ton in Jul 2010 - February 2011.