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Early payment of duty drawback claims urged

SIALKOT: The business community of Sialkot has appealed to the federal government to enusure immediate necessary steps for payment of the pending duty drawback claims.

Talking to APP here on Friday, business representatives observed that delay in the payment of these claims has reached alarming proportions, at the Sambrial dryport, Sialkot.

No payment has been made to exporters since October 1999. The delay is reportedly caused by paucity of funds sanctioned by the Central Board of Revenue for Gujranwala collectorate, they said.

They urged upon the CBR high-ups that Rs. 500 million be sanctioned at the earliest for clearing all the backlog.

Fund allocation for duty drawback to Gujranwala collectorate being tied to the revenue collected on imports, is highly irrational and unjust, they asserted, as Sialkot is an export-oriented city, while most of the imports are routed through Karachi.ÑAPP