It is a matter of great concern that the frequent coming of plastic jewellery and metal jewellery into the Pakistani market in the category of artificial jewellery is causing great financial loss to local industries of artificial jewellery. The main reason behind this fact is the lowest rate of import duties on these items on the basis of value of goods, ie, US $2.0 per kg on plastic jewellery and US $15.0 per kg on metal jewellery.
Besides, Indian artificial jewellery is also coming into the Pakistani market via Dubai either by import or smuggling wherreas the entrance of Indian artificial jewellery is not allowed into Pakistan being a banned item.
The lowest rate of import duties on these two types of jewelleries have made an easy way for their sale in the Pakistani market being more cheaper than Pakistani artificial jewellery. It is a matter to note that Pakistani artificial jewellery is better and more viable than imported plastic jewellery and metal jewellery because costly and viable raw materials are used in Pakistani artificial jewellery in comparison to jewelleries coming from China and India.
Nowadays, customers are preferring purchase of artificial jewellery due to the rapid increase in the cost of gold. Consequently, many skilled workers of gold have attached themselves to artificial jewellery. In these circumstances, the local industries of artificial jewellery are not only saving foreign exchange for the country but also have provided employment to many people.
I, therefore, request the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue, Head of Customs Department and other concerned high-ups of the government departments to pay specific heed to the protection of business of artificial jewellery of Pakistan by imposing ban on the import of plastic jewellery and metal jewellery or putting them into the import category of luxury items to raise import duties thereon side by side stopping the entrance of Indian artificial jewellery into the Pakistani market as a banned item. This is imperative in view of the fact that Pakistan is producing better quality artificial jewellery and fulfilling the needs of the customers in every respect. So, there is no need to import plastic jewellery and metal jewellery with a view to saving foreign exchange of the country and generating employment of many people as well.