Goods imported from India: ECC allows release sans prior government nod

The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has granted permission to release goods imported from India without prior permission of the government. According to official documents, import from India is restricted to items included in the positive list.
The documents suggest that cases for one-time exemption for import of items from India, not included in the positive list, were examined by a committee representing the relevant Ministries and submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.
The objective was to provide relief in deserving cases such as relief items imported for humanitarian purposes, industrial use items etc not elsewhere available.
The ECC was further informed that the committee considered the requests that were either for relief/humanitarian purpose or industrial use by circulation in June, 2011 and submitted its recommendations for approval of the Prime Minister who directed that the matter may be placed before ECC. Consequently, the Ministry of Commerce placed the matter before the ECC and sought approval of the following proposals; (i) goods for relief/humanitarian purposes may be allowed to be released, considering humanitarian nature of these imports; (ii) goods of industrial use may be allowed to be released against a surcharge of 20 percent C&F value; and (c) Murree Brewery may be allowed to import labelling and foiling machines and guala capping machines, valuing $139,500 in relaxation of the rules as it would enhance the competitiveness of their export products.