KARACHI: China State Construction Engineering Corporation has imported heavy machinery and equipment worth Rs3.019 billion in August so far after the government announced sales tax, income tax and customs duty exemptions on the import of plant, machinery and equipment including dumpers and special purpose motor vehicles.
These exemptions are granted to China State Construction Engineering Corporation and China Communication Construction Company for construction of Sukkur-Multan section of Karachi-Peshawar Motorway project and Karakorum Highway Phase-II of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Government of Pakistan issued SRO 735(I)/2016 on August 09, 2016, SRO 642(I)/2016 on July 27, 2016 and SRO 721(I)/2016 on August 08, 2016 adding dumpers and special purpose vehicles in the list of exempted imports for CPEC. Earlier, equipment and construction machinery was exempted from duty and taxes and now plant, equipment, machinery, dumpers and special purpose vehicles are all exempted.
Within weeks after these exemptions, the Chinese have imported brand new machinery including bulldozers, motor graders, road rollers, wheel loaders, excavators, dumb tracks, concrete transit mixers and various other equipment.
Work under CPEC is progressing fast which is evident from such large imports of brand new machinery and equipment. Discussing CPEC remains incomplete without the mention of Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, who is set to retire in November 2016.
It is interesting to note that Chinese are quite comfortable with the presence of Army in this project. Sources said Chinese are not comfortable in working with the political government because of the record of their inconsistent policies. Since CPEC is a game changer and a must have for Pakistan, the project would definitely be completed.
Although General Raheel Sharif has expressed time and again that he would not accept extension in his tenure, General’s presence in the picture is important. This is also the will of masses as expressed by several rallies throughout the country.
Chaudry Nisar is said to making all efforts to convince Nawaz Sharif to grant the extension and as well as convincing General Raheel Sharif to accept the extension. It is expected that the extension in his tenure as Army chief would be announced by October end or early November.
Several steps have been taken by the Army to eliminate movement of terrorists and anti-social elements and borders have been sealed with Afghanistan, which is the main route of such elements.
Army has also helped the authorities in curbing smuggling, which is the prime source of funding terrorists.