A local manufacturer of iron and steel low carbon wire rod has approached National Tariff Commission (NTC) for enhancement of customs duty from 10 percent to 25 percent on import of wire rod. According to an announcement of the NTC here on Monday, M/s Abbas Steel Industries (Pvt) Ltd has asked the commission to review tariff for protection to its finished product as it has the annual capacity of about 400,000 tons of iron and steel low carbon wire rod production.
The unit along with other indigenous manufacturers of iron and steel low carbon wire rod having annual capacity of about 400,000 tons while total demand of the country is approximately 250,000 tons per annum. The indigenous industry is able to meet the entire demand of the country. The wire rod is imported at low declared value, which is adversely affecting the local manufacturers. Mostly the declared value of the rod is even lower than the value reported in the Metal Bulletin.
Due to under-invoicing, the government is loosing its revenue whereas the domestic industry is contributing a handsome amount by various direct and indirect taxes to the national exchequer. The wire rod industry and its downstream industry is labour intensive and playing pivotal role in the economy of the country. This industry provides jobs to an estimated 20,000 skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers.-PR