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Govt urged to solve garment industry's problems

SOHAIL SARFRAZ

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Readymade Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Prgmea) has demanded of the government to resolve various problems faced by the garment industry, it was learnt.

In a communication to the Central Board of Revenue on Thursday, Prgmea has asked the Board to consider forthwith the issues like refund of sales tax, show cause notices and multiple audits.

The association has invited Member Coordination Riaz Malik to an open forum on sales tax at Karachi.

Prgmea has pointed out undue delays in normal refund cases, and nominal minor procedural mistakes. Show cause notices were issued for small procedural mistakes ignoring the relief already provided by the Sales Tax department.

The association chairman Mohammad Jawed Chinoy has further told the Revenue Department that Prgmea is also facing problems regarding refund of sales tax on utility bills and multiple audits.

Prgmea is keen to discuss gold and silver category status of the sales tax refund including new applications and up and down grading.

Gold category means that garment exporters could get sales tax refund within 72 hours as prescribed in the procedure of the gold category, sources said.

The letter said that the members of the Prgmea would like to discuss industry's issues with the member coordination for immediate remedy.