LAHORE: Pakistan Coating Association (PCA) has sought help of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry to get their severe issues resolved at the earliest.

A delegation of Pakistan Coating Association called on the LCCI President Mian Nauman Kabir, Senior Vice President Mian Rehman Aziz Chan, Vice President Haris Ateeq and gave a detailed briefing on the issues being faced by one of the most important industries of the country.

The delegation was headed by Central Chairman of the Association Moazzam Rasheed while LCCI Executive Committee Members Ali Afzal, Mian Ateeq, Khalid Mehmood, Saleem Asghar Bhatti and Fiaz Haider were also present on the occasion.

The PCA delegation informed the LCCI office-bearers that exports of this industry are more than USD 100 million. If Pakistan Coating Industry be made part of Pakistan's export-oriented sectors and given incentives, exports of this sector can be jumped to one billion dollars.

They said that various chlorine based solvents e.g. chloroform, methylene chloride, ethylene dichloride and propylene dichloride are imported in massive quantities at zero percent customs duty, primarily for the manufacturing of adhesives. The exposure to these solvents causes adverse health impact and a great threat to the environment. They said that ban on these solvents in Pakistan should be imposed.

The PCA delegation said that Pakistan Coating Industry is facing hurdles for the import of solvent by Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) and Narcotics Control Board. These hurdles should be removed.

They said that the cumulative value of exports refunds of PC industry is around Rs 1.5 billion for the past three years i.e. 2016 to 2019. These refunds should be paid immediately.

The PCA delegation further stated that at present, when the new regime in Afghanistan has been denied access to foreign exchange reserves due to which Telegraphic Transfer of money has become difficult for exporters. As well as, at present, there is no bank in Afghanistan to facilitate the exporters in this regard. The concerned authorities may be approached to facilitate the exporters to resume exports to Afghanistan.

LCCI President Mian Nauman Kabir assured the delegation that their issue will be taken up with the concerned department. He said that at a time when Covid-19 has affected all the sectors hard, the industry needs handholding from the government.

The LCCI chief said that a little attention can enable Pakistan Coating Industry to earn huge foreign exchange for the national exchequer. He urged the government to resolve issues of the Pakistan Coating Industry on priority.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021