ISLAMABAD - All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA) on Thursday asked the government to clear the pending sales tax refunds and ensure smooth provision of LNG to textile processing units.

“The government should resolve these two issues to enhance the textile exports” said a representative of APTPMA after holding meeting with Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance, Dr. Miftah Ismail here Thursday. The delegation was led by Zubair Motiwala.

Adviser Miftah Ismail assured the APTPMA representatives of all possible support to resolve their problems. He said that the issues are already under active consideration of the government and appropriate decisions will be taken soon.

Sources said that government is already working to clear the pending sales tax refunds within next one month. PML-N President and former Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif recently directed Miftah Ismail to clear the 100 percent sales tax refunds of the textile sector by February 15 this year. The PML-N chief also directed Miftah to reduce the gas prices to address the concerns of the industrialists, who are worried about gas prices and Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC). The government had already accepted one of the major proposals of the exporters to devalue the rupee by 5 percent against the US dollar that would help in enhancing the exports.

Sources further informed that government is taking policy directives on key economic decisions for the upcoming general elections 2018. The government wants to enhance the exports. Pakistan’s exports were recorded at $11 billion during July-December of the year 2017-18 as compared to $9.9 billion of the corresponding period of the last year, showing a growth of 11.24 percent.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Pak-Afghan Chamber of Commerce & Industries also called on Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Miftah Ismail here Thursday.

Members of the Pak-Afghan Chamber of Commerce & Industries apprised the Adviser of the difficulties being faced due to regulatory duty on different types of fruits being imported from Afghanistan. They requested for easing out the duty regime saying the gesture would have positive impact on overall bilateral trade.

Adviser said that the government wishes to promote trade with Afghanistan and will review the matter in consultation with all the stakeholders, with a view to finding a solution, favourable for bilateral trade.