The garment exporters have called for exemption from weight on high value garments exports to the USA and Europe, as their duty drawback is calculated on the basis of FOB value and not on weight. The Chairman Customs sub-committee of Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Prgmea), Abdul Wahid Bandukda, in a fax to Collector Exports on Tuesday, expressed grave concern over the public notice issued by the Collectorate, which stated that shipments with a weight variation of more than 10 percent would be stopped till the adjudication process is completed.

He said that one container contained large variety of garments hence, it would be difficult for the exporters to weigh items of each variety. This would cause delay in the delivery of goods to the buyer, which is one of the hallmarks of success in the new quota-free world under the WTO regime, he added.

The Prgmea Customs committee chief urged Collector Exports Javed Kazi to exempt garments exported to the high tariff countries, like the USA and Europe, from the public notice 01/2005, as duty drawback on these shipments was calculated on the basis of value and not on weight.

He further said that it seemed that the restriction on over weight shipments booked at the dry ports had not been imposed and the condition was only made for shipments presented at the export stations in Karachi.

Wahid requested the Chairman Central Board of Revenue (CBR) to provide a level playing field to exporters all over the country and bring uniformity in Customs procedures at all stations.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005