The Engineering Development Board has announced to involve Pakistan Revenue Automation (Pvt) Limited (PRAL) into "On-line Quota Debiting System" for the automotive sector with effect from 1st July 2009.
According to EDB sources from 1st July all the imports of raw materials, direct materials, sub-components, components, sub-assemblies and assemblies under three different SROs shall be importable through this system. All the importers under the above SROs shall clear their goods under the system through their Authorized Officer or Clearing Agent. An individual user ID and Password will be provided by the PRAL. The importable lists for the year 2009-10 under the above referred SROs will be placed on the system and hard copy of the lists will be forwarded to the importers after necessary approval by EDB. The status of the imports during the year will be reflected on the system which can be checked at any time. The import of the items will be according to the Certificate/ Lists approved by EDB. Any deviation in the entry for clearance will not be acceptable by the system, the sources said.
In case of any delay in the approval of importable items, Provisional Clearance of consignments shall only be allowed on recommendations of EDB.
Chairman, Association of Pakistan Motorcycle Assemblers (APMA) Muhammad Sabir Shaikh commenting on this development under the Budget 2009-10 said that it was amazing that the above-referred order was issued just to implement on SMEs of Motorcycle Industry only while Car, Truck, Bus Assemblers and various other sectors were excluded from this system. What were the reasons behind this policy? It was yet not understood. This is a clear indication that EDB and the FBR authorities were not happy with the present development and progress of Motorcycle Industry in Pakistan which had crossed the mark of one million unit production during last fiscal year.
