M/s Falcon Abrasives Private Limited (the applicant) manufacturer of Abrasives Cloth Sheet, Belts/Roll, Sand Paper, Fiber Disc and Buffering Paper has approached the National Tariff Commission (NTC) for reduction of customs duty and sales tax on import of its raw materials/Inputs ie, Water Proof Base Paper (4804.5900), Brown Fused Aluminium Oxide (2818.1000), Phenol Crystal (2907.1100), BYK-346 (3402.9000), Fine Milled Cryolite (2826.3000), Vulcanised Fiber (3920.9900), Coupling Agent (293l.0090), Kraft Paper (4804.1100) used by the applicant to compete with imported products.
The applicant's request is based on the following grounds:
(i) The applicant produces good quality products that are commonly known as Abrasives Cloth sheet, Belts/Roll, Sandpaper, Fiber Disc and Buffering Paper. These products are generally used to provide smooth finishing of metal, wood, glass, concrete and various stones before paint and polish.
(ii) Finished Abrasive products are importable at 20 percent customs duty whereas customs duty on imports of raw materials/inputs is ranging from 5 percent to 25 percent. However customs duty on import of finished abrasives produce from China under Free Trade Agreement is ranging front 10 percent to 17 percent.
(iii) The applicant has the capacity to meet entire local demand and the production capacity can be increased significantly with slight modification if local and export demand is increased. Accordingly, the NTC has initiated an investigation and would welcome views, suggestions and proposals from all parties having an interest in the business relating to or associated with the imports of Cloth sheet, belts/roll, sand paper, fiber disc and buffing paper with raw materials. The views / suggestions may be sent within fifteen days of issue of this Public Notice in the Official Gazette of Pakistan, to the Secretary, NTC, 4th Floor, State Life Building No 5, Blue Area, Islamabad, Fax: 051-9221205.
A public hearing on the issue is scheduled to be held on August 2, 2011 at 11am in the Committee Room of NTC, 11th Floor, State Life Building No 5, Blue Area, Islamabad. All parties having an interest in the business relating to or associated with the imports of Cloth sheet, belts/roll, sand paper, fiber disc and buffing paper are hereby advised to get themselves registered with the NTC latest by July 25, 2011 for participation in the Public Hearing.
In this regard, number of participants with their names, telephone numbers (Ceil/LL) and fax numbers may be faxed to the Assistant Director (Inv-II), Fax no. 051-9221205. For any further inquiry please contact 051-9201188. All interested parties may bring their comments and suggestions in writing. The comments and suggestions may be supported with essential facts, information and evidence(s), which must be brought to the public hearing. The views not supported with reliable documentary evidence(s) shall not be considered.-PR