There may finally be some relief for Pakistani textile mills over tax refunds. The country’s finance minister Ishaq Dar has assured a delegation of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) that their concerns regarding refund of sales tax would be addressed on priority, according to a report in the Pakistani media. He said the government had already asked for filing of refund claims by August 31 so that the payments are made on priority, The APTMA delegation sought the minister’s attention to the levy of surcharge on electricity bills, settlement of sales tax refunds, removal of anomaly in taxes as well as restraining import of yarn. Dar constituted a committee comprising representatives of APTMA and government officials to further deliberate on these issues. The sales tax refund issue has been a sticking point between the textile mills and the government with the former repeatedly insisting that the delay in the refund leaves the sector hamstrung for funds. The APTMA delegation said that given the right kind of incentives, textile industry would be able to play its due role in enhancing country’s foreign exchange earnings.
