The Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Plgmea) has urged the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) to allow the exporters to avail of the facility of increase in duty drawback rates with retrospect, i. e from July 2002.
Plgmea Chairman Fawad Ijaz Khan said in a statement that the CBR had slashed duty drawback rates on export of leather garments drastically during 2002, which plunged the leather industry into deep crisis.
However, on strong representation from the Plgmea, the CBR raised the rates on export of leather garment vide SRO 698 dated October 9, 2002.
He said the Plgmea had demanded of the CBR to make the raise in duty drawback applicable from July 2002 when these were cut down, but the demand was turned down by the CBR, arguing that it had never allowed the facility to any industry previously and it would not be possible to do this without any precedent.
Fawad cited the example of SRO 846 dated October 4, 2004, which had allowed the textile industry retrospective implementation of increased duty draw back rates on PSF bases products from July 1.
He said this precedent could be used to allow the leather garment exporters enjoy raise in duty drawback rates on PSF-based products from July 1.
The Plgmea chief said this precedent could be used to allow the leather garment exporters enjoy raise in the duty drawback rates from the back date.
Fawad requested CBR Chairman Mohammad Abdullah Yousuf to reconsider the Plgmea demand for retrospective implementation of SRO 698 from July 2002.