ISLAMABAD - The Federal Board of Revenue has recently issued a statement, saying there is a significant increase in sugar production witnessed in the country following the installation of Track and Trace System in the sugar mills and the FBR has also collected over 6.59 billion taxes owing to this system.
In a statement, a spokesman of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association said that the sugar industry of Pakistan had produced 5.63 million tonnes of sugar against the total need of six million tonnes. To bridge this gap, government had imported sugar without levying any sales tax which incurred loss to the national exchequer whereas, it proved beneficial for the farmers and industry of foreign countries. During the current season, production of sugar has reached record 7.51 million tonnes. As the locally produced sugar is not exempted from any taxes, hence the government received huge amount of taxes from the industry.
He added that the sugar industry had operationalized the mills ahead of the stipulated time under the government pressure but the government did not fulfill its promises it made with the sugar industry of giving working capital to the sugar mills. On the other hand, the FBR taking credit of the Track and Trace System is totally out of proportion. In fact, the sugar mills had already put in place a strict monitoring system before the Track and Trace System which included cameras and the presence of FBR staff in the sugar mills. Sugar mills have always extended support to the government and will always continue to do so.
This year, the sugar mills time and again made the government realize that the country has received a bumper crop of sugarcane which clearly shows that sugar mills had disbursed timely payments to the farmers and more than the government-fixed rates of last year. This motivated the farmers to sow sugarcane on maximum area of land. This is the reason that the sugar mills are still running to their capacity.
Pakistan Sugar Mills Association and its members have always welcomed the monitoring system of the government. Government is also cognizant of the fact that this Track and Trace System was installed solely by the funds provided by the sugar mills and without any government’s support. Last year, PSMA Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Zaka Ashraf along with other members from across the country participated in the inaugural ceremony of this system and extended their full support to it but today the FBR taking sole credit of it is sending a negative vibe which needs to be shunned.
The Sugar Mills Association has demanded the government to allow export of excess sugar and also urge the prime minister to spare time for a meeting with the sugar industry.
In a statement, a spokesman of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association said that the sugar industry of Pakistan had produced 5.63 million tonnes of sugar against the total need of six million tonnes. To bridge this gap, government had imported sugar without levying any sales tax which incurred loss to the national exchequer whereas, it proved beneficial for the farmers and industry of foreign countries. During the current season, production of sugar has reached record 7.51 million tonnes. As the locally produced sugar is not exempted from any taxes, hence the government received huge amount of taxes from the industry.
He added that the sugar industry had operationalized the mills ahead of the stipulated time under the government pressure but the government did not fulfill its promises it made with the sugar industry of giving working capital to the sugar mills. On the other hand, the FBR taking credit of the Track and Trace System is totally out of proportion. In fact, the sugar mills had already put in place a strict monitoring system before the Track and Trace System which included cameras and the presence of FBR staff in the sugar mills. Sugar mills have always extended support to the government and will always continue to do so.
This year, the sugar mills time and again made the government realize that the country has received a bumper crop of sugarcane which clearly shows that sugar mills had disbursed timely payments to the farmers and more than the government-fixed rates of last year. This motivated the farmers to sow sugarcane on maximum area of land. This is the reason that the sugar mills are still running to their capacity.
Pakistan Sugar Mills Association and its members have always welcomed the monitoring system of the government. Government is also cognizant of the fact that this Track and Trace System was installed solely by the funds provided by the sugar mills and without any government’s support. Last year, PSMA Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Zaka Ashraf along with other members from across the country participated in the inaugural ceremony of this system and extended their full support to it but today the FBR taking sole credit of it is sending a negative vibe which needs to be shunned.
The Sugar Mills Association has demanded the government to allow export of excess sugar and also urge the prime minister to spare time for a meeting with the sugar industry.
