3 industrial raw materials from India: ECC likely to relax rules

ISLAMABAD: Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet is likely to relax rules for import of three industrial raw materials to be imported from India on one time basis, official sources in Commerce Ministry told the Business Recorder.

Giving the background, the sources said that import from India is restricted to the positive list (appendix-G) of the Import Policy Order. Case for one time exemption regarding import of items from India, not included in appendix G are put up for the Prime Minister's approval after examination by a committee representing the relevant ministries.

The objective is to provide relief in deserving cases such as relief items imported for humanitarian purposes, industrial use items etc, not elsewhere available.

The requests that were for industrial purposes were circulated for examination by the committee on September 23, 2011. Details are as follows: (i) components of furnace, namely winding temperature indicator and hydraulic cylinder for 6 M/W/15 T imported by Madina Enterprises Limited Faisalabad; (ii) 01 potato grading machine imported by Chase International, Karachi; and (iii) 200,000 tons of pet coke to be imported by Maple Leaf Cement factory, Lahore.

The sources said the Prime Minister Secretariat in the three cases directed the MoC to place the matter before the ECC in its forthcoming meeting.

The MoC holds the view that: (i) relaxation may be allowed for winding temperature indicator and hydraulic cylinder for 6 M/W/15T imported by Madina Enterprises Limited, Faisalabad on one time basis subject to surcharge of 15 per cent on C&F value of the consignment; (ii) relaxation may be allowed for one time unit of potato grading machine imported by Chase International, Karachi on one time basis; and (iii) Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited Lahore may be allowed to import 200,000 tons of pet coke on one time basis.-MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN