Maqsood Ismail, Chairman, Pakistan Biscuit & Confectionery Manufacturers Association (PB & CMA) have stated this in a letter sent to Abdullah Yusuf, Chairman Central Board of Revenue (CBR) on Thursday.
He recalled that about a year ago duty drawback rates on exports of confectionery especially of bubble gums were slashed arbitrarily. PB&CMA approached the CBR and the directorate of Input Output Coefficient Organisation (IOCO) and were assured that "justice will be done and rates will be revised upwards as per the accepted work sheets."
However, no action had been taken yet despite Association's best efforts and neither IOCO nor the Department or Member (Exports), CBR had taken up the matter seriously.
Maqsood Ismail pointed out that the biscuits and confectionery industry had strove very hard to establish market for this non-traditional item despite stiff competition from China, India and Turkey.
He said that the export market in these countries had almost been lost and eventually entire market would be lost because of inaction of the relevant authorities.
He has desired Chairman, CBR's intervention in the matter and requested that justice be done to the industry. "We are approaching you because of the reputation you have acquired of helping each and every sector of business which is in trouble and taking timely decision on rather difficult matters," the letter added.