Zero rating on Sales Tax be restored

PHMA for restoration of Zero Rating on five export-oriented sectors in budget
Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA) Central Chairman Chaudhry Salamat Ali has demanded of the government to restore Zero Rating on Sales Tax – No Payment No Refund Regime reinstating SRO 1125 in the budget terming it indispensable to surmount liquidity hardships of exports and in the national interest to enhance exports and earn foreign exchange to strengthen the economy.
He said that due to global business slowdown and COVID19, the economy of Pakistan is also in dire straits and the current volume of Pakistan exports cannot be unsurpassed unless the burning liquidity problem being faced by exporters is not appropriately addressed by the government.
To achieve a great milestone in enhancement and development of exports, it is crucial that the government must facilitate the export sector introducing export-friendly policy as the Five Export Oriented Sectors have been highly aggrieved due to rescinding SRO 1125 and imposition of 17% sales tax on exports which Government imposed in the last budget with a view to collect sales tax on domestic sales of textiles.
This unilateral move by the government penalized the export sector as their precious liquidity in shape of sales tax refund was held unreasonably with Government, which also caused disruption in enhancement of exports.
The Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association Central Chairman voiced that the global economic slowdown has also adversely affected the export sector of Pakistan. To dampen the effects of COVID19, deserving support and attention of the government to the export oriented sectors is inevitable.
The Textile exporters have already faced colossal financial losses during global lockdown which has brought damages to their businesses.
Now that the global business activities have started moving towards normalization, many Buyers have changed the term of payments and demand 120 days for payment.
How Export Industries will survive in these circumstances when buyers need 120 days for payments along with 17% sales tax which is refunded after excessive delays?
In present difficult times during lockdown, export industries are operating under capacity, the situation demands immediate deserving considerations as textile export industry will face another challenge of further increase of cost of manufacturing due to production below capacity which cannot be afforded by SME Exporters and such situation may compel for closure.
Chaudhry Salamat Ali articulated that textile exporters who had timely filed their claims of sales tax refunds had received only 35% of their pending sales tax refund with the Government.
However, 65% of sales tax refunds are carried forward and still pending which cumulate approx. 12% to 15% amount of exporter’s running capital.