950817

'Levy on sewing

machines to hurt

apparel industry'

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The 15 percent sales tax levied on import of industrial sewing machines would add to unemployment in the country, according to a spokesman of Apparel Machinery Imorters Group.

In a statement on Thursday, he urged the government to withdraw this levy imposed in order to help the apparel industry grow.

He said that the imposition of this levy will reduce the imports of industrial sewing machines by 50 percent, arresting growth of apparel industry in the country and causing increase in unemployment.

Quoting statistics, he said that in 1992-93 61,599 machines were imported at a cost of Rs 524 million, which created 221,756 jobs. But sewing machines import has since then constantly declined due to many factors, and 1994-95 the imports dropped to 29,972 units worth Rs 424 million which created 107,899 jobs.

During current fiscal year it is feared that the quanitity will drastically drop to 15,000 units, which would create 54,000 jobs only.