950808

Lifting of ban

on import of

pig iron demanded

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Foundary Owners Association has demanded of the government to lift the ban on the import of the pig iron as the Pakistan Steel Mill cannot meet the domestic requirements itself.

Addressing a joint press conference here on Tuesday the President of the Foundary Owners Association, Mian Muhammad Akram, Rana Shakoor Jan, Secretary General and Mian Muhammad Fayyaz, Finance Secretary said since the Pakistan Steel Mill was the sole supplier of the pig iron and due to its wrong production and distribution policies the black-marketing of the pig iron was in full swing.

They said that the pig iron was to be imported prior to the inception of Pakistan Steel Mill the foundries had to seek NOC. They said there was a diference in quality between the imported pig iron and the pig iron manufactured by the Pak Steel. The pig iron produced by the PS could only be used after incurring an extra expenditure of Rs 1500 per ton, for adding 2 percent silicon and about 1 percent manganese.

The president of the association demanded of the government to establish at least one steel mill in every province to meet the growing domestic requirements. New professional management should be appointed which can easily understand the problems replacing bureaucratic set-up and sales depots should be set-up in major cities. The president further demanded a reduction in price corresponding to the cost of making it locally. He also demanded withdrawal of the restriction of NOC and permission for duty-free import.