While thanking the government for the issuance of SRO 437(I)/2005, providing support for research and development activity to textile garment industry, Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Chairman Ijaz A Khokhar has invited attention to the problem of obtaining separate "E" Forms and Shipping Bills for different items and commodities other than those falling under Chapters 61 & 62 of Pakistan Customs Harmonised Code.
He said that it was very difficult for the SMEs, in particular of upcountry, to obtain separate "E" Forms, as when letter of credit was established by the foreign buyers for different items and commodities; they expect the consignment to be loaded and delivered as a single consignment. "It was very difficult for small exporters to prepare separate set of documents of invoices, bills of lading, packing list, "E" Form, etc, nor it was acceptable to the foreign buyers," he added.
He requested that an amendment in SRO 437(I)/2005 dated May 18 might be made so that the Customs do not insist for separate bills of lading, etc, for different commodities.
Another problem that Ijaz A. Khokhar pointed out was with regard to redundancy of Annexure-III of the procedure laid down in SRO 437. He said that the shipping bill, which was required to be submitted for the support claim admissibility, was a sufficient evidence of GD (goods declaration), which was also called a shipping bill.
This particular Form contains all details and duplication of the same information by obtaining Annexure III from the Customs was uncalled for. He requested that necessity of producing Annexure III might also be waived.
The Chairman also pointed out that the Ministry of Commerce has allowed support for research and development activities to the exporting community for exports to European Union (EU) countries and the US.
He said that other countries such as Canada, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand and Far East were high tariff countries also and these might also be included for being eligible for receiving support for research and development activity.