Pakistan Customs would take up all the duty drawback claims of the value-added textile sector, which have been pending for the last three and fours years by the first week of May, said Chief Collector Customs South, Sher Nawaz Khan on Thursday. He also assured the members of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA) during a meeting, which held at PHMA house that the duty drawback cases of value-added textile sector would be dealt with immediate basis in the future.
He pointed out that the Pakistan Customs had issued the cheques against the duty drawback for the period 2006-07 and registered a complaint with the central bank that the claim holders had not yet received the amount. Sher Nawaz also assured them that the value-added textile sector's Customs related problems would be removed on urgent basis so that export of this sector could go smooth. He further said that the PHMA members should also trust the Customs Department.
Earlier, Chairman Pakistan Apparel Forum, Javed Bilwani, pointed out that there are over Rs 130 million of duty drawback claims are pending for a long period and non-payment to exporters have created financial crunch for them. He said that the textile sector generated about 42 percent of the country's total employment, which the value-added textile sector shared by 98 percent alone. He said that under the SRO 1065 the import of accessories for the value-added textile sector was being delayed, which created difficulties in timely export of products. Bilwani urged the customs officials to facilitate the textile exporters.