Chief Collector Customs (Exports) pledges to help resolve issues facing TMA

KARACHI: The Senior Vice Chairman Syed Usman Ali along with the prominent exporters of the Towel Manufacturers Association (TMA) have given warm welcomed to Chief Collector Customs (Exports) Muhammad Sadiq and Muneeza Majeed, Collector of Customs (Exports) at TMA Head Office and thanked them to spare their valuable time for the members of this Association to listen their grievances/ problems.

After the brief introduction, Syed Usman Ali, Senior Vice Chairman of the Association highlighted the pending refund of Customs duty drawback claims of the members of TMA which is creating financial crunch for the exporters as well as huge hurdles to complete export orders timely.

He also informed the Collector of Customs (Exports) that we have already submitted the details of pending refund amounts at your office for your positive measures and to resolve the pendency of exporters’ refunds.

He further shared with the Chief Collector Customs (Exports) that exporters paid the duty and taxes when they purchase raw material to manufacture for exports goods and the manufacturing process takes 3 to 4 Months to ready goods for exports and after exports goods, repatriate their exports proceeds amounts also takes 3 to 4 months and after the realization of exports proceeds 2 to 3 months also needed to refund the Customs duty drawbacks claims to exporters. It means the refund process is too long and TMA members requested Collector Customs to release immediately Customs duty drawbacks amounts after the realisation of exports proceeds.

During the meeting, the senior vice chairman of the Association shared and highlighted that the exporters of this country are passing through a very critical era because billions of rupees have been stuck-up with the FBR against the Sales Tax refunds and at the other hand huge amounts stuck-up against Customs duty drawback. In this critical situation exporters are forced to borrow money from the bank at very high interest rates which is enhancing the cost of doing business and we are unable to compete with our competitors in the international market.

He requested the Chief Collector Customs to kindly facilitate the exporters of this country and support to enhance the country’s exports. He also suggested on behalf of this Association that all the government and semi-government institutions should join hands and work collectively for the growth of exporters because we have no choice except to enhance our exports. The exporters of this country are trying their best to revive the economy of our beloved country and earn valuable foreign exchange for the national exchequer as well as huge contributions in the collection of taxes, generating employment and participating in socio-economic development.

The Collector Customs (Exports) Muhammad Sadiq has assured his full support to resolve the problems of exporters.

He further informed that we have nominated Kaleem Ullah ADC Customs House as the focal person to coordinate and address the issues of exporters on top priority.

Sadiq informed that the doors of his office are open for the exporters, for immediate solution of the issues of exporters/TMA members. Sadiq also said that we will welcome TMA members’ valuable suggestions/recommendations for the growth of the Export industry of Pakistan.

Sadiq also urged the members of TMA to get register themselves in the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS) and our team is always ready to support the exporters. He further said that the Export industry is very important for us which is earning valuable foreign exchange for the national exchequer, therefore the government is taking productive measures to facilitate exporter of Pakistan for the fruitful results.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024