Khawaja Shahzeb Akram, SVP FPCCI, has demanded that the unfair and burgeoning sales tax imposition on solar power equipment should be exempted for the consignments whose Letters of Credit and Bills of Lading have been opened before January 15, 2022; else, traders and companies will suffer unbearable financial losses and bankruptcy. A huge number of solar devices import’ containers are awaiting clearance; and, importers are facing heavy demurrage charges, he added.
A high-profile meeting of the Solar Power Industry leaders took place at FPCCI to discuss the issue at length. Khawaja Shahzeb Akram, SVP FPPCI, shared his deep concerns with Pakistan Solar Association (PSA)’ delegation in the presence of Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh. Mr. Muhammad Ali Mian said that since the announcement of the mini-budget, the automatic and immediate imposition of sales tax has caused the containers of solar devices to be stuck due to non-clearance as a result of unfair discrepancies. He added that imposing 17% tax on solar energy devices is totally irrational and illogical; and would, in fact, harm the objectives of transitioning to alternative and renewable energy policy.
Representatives of Pakistan Solar Association (PSA) said that Mr. Shaukat Tarin, Federal Minister for Finance & Revenue, in his speech on Supplementary Finance Bill 2021-22 announced that the proposal to tax solar devices has been scrapped.
But, on January 17th, while submitting the Import Goods Declarations on the FBR portal for customs clearance
