20000411

Garment exporters

urge Shaukat for

early ST refund

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The readymade garments exporters have urged the minister of finance to arrange payment of sales tax refund pending for the last four months because they are facing acute liquidity problems.

In an urgent fax to the minister, an exporter who claims over Rs. 4.4 million in sales tax refund said that his refund case was pending with the Sales Tax department since January 2000. The claim pertains to December 1999, and January and February 2000.

An exporter, who preferred anonymity because of fear of victimisation, said that he was a small exporter conducting business totally on self-finance basis and was not availing of the facility of export refinance. " In these circumstances this hold-up of refunds is hindering us in running our business and accepting further export orders", he added.

He said that any further delay in payment of refunds will result in failing to meet our commitments with our foreign buyers which would not only hurt our business but will also bring a bad name to the image of the country.