KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday said that it will disburse freight support payments to sugar mills in Punjab Province at variable rates to be calculated on daily basis as per prescribed formula.
The rates would be based on white sugar price index published by International Sugar Organization (https://www.isosugar.org/prices.php).
Further, the international sugar price on the date of sugar export quota allocation will be applicable for calculation of rate of freight support irrespective of the export price, the SBP said.
In a circular, the central bank invited attention of banks to EPD Circular Letter No. 22 dated December 18, 2018 regarding export of sugar.
In this regard, ADs may find enclosed letter No. FD(W&M)2-3/2018 dated January 31, 2019 (Annexure-I) received from Finance Department, Government of the Punjab regarding release of funds for freight support on export of sugar subject to terms and conditions mentioned therein.
The SBP advised the banks to process the cases of eligible sugar mills for cash freight support against the export of sugar as per following mechanism:
Banks will forward the shipment-wise requests of sugar mills on prescribed format through their respective Departmental/Business/Group Heads to the Director, FEOD, SBP-BSC, Head Office, Karachi or the Chief Manager, Field Office of SBP-BSC, as the case may be, for claiming freight support quoting the reference of this circular letter along with the attested / authenticated copies of the following documents:
FEOD’s approval letter for allocation of sugar export quota.
Manual Form-E/Electronic Form-E (EFE).
Goods Declaration Form (GDF).
Bill of Lading/ Truck Receipt/ Railway Receipt. In case export has been made through House Bill of Lading, it must be accompanied by relevant Master Bill of Lading.
Commercial / Customs Invoice.
Export Proceeds Realization Certificate and / or Advance Payment Voucher properly showing utilization. Where shipment has been made against Advance Payment, shipping documents must have been submitted by the AD under Para 27, Chapter 12 of F.E Manual – 2018.
Freight support will be paid to sugar mills on first come first served basis. Freight support will be allowed only after full realization of export proceeds against E-Form.
Exporters must ship the sugar within 60 days from the date of FEOD’s approval regarding quota allocation to be eligible for freight support. Both date of approval and date of shipment are included in counting of the 60 days period. For shipment by sea, the date of shipment is the “Shipped on Board” date on Bill of Lading. For shipment by land route, the “Out of Charge” date will be considered as the date of shipment.
It is reiterated that in case of non-performance within the stipulated time against the quota allocated by FEOD, ADs will recover a penalty of 15% of total contract value from the exporter and deposit the same with the FEOD, SBP-BSC, Head Office, Karachi through DD/ PO in favor of Government of Pakistan. In case of partial shipment, the penalty shall be recovered by the AD proportionately. Further, sugar mills/ exporters who are defaulters of banks will not be allowed to export sugar/ paid freight support.
Sugar mills will approach the respective office of SBP-BSC through their AD claiming the freight support within 60 days from realization of export proceeds or date of shipment, whichever comes later. Further, both dates of submission of claim and realization of export proceeds or date of shipment, whichever applicable, will be considered in calculating number of days. No claims will be entertained after aforementioned time period.
SBP-BSC will return discrepant claim to the respective AD and the same must be resubmitted after removing the discrepancies within 30 days from the date of SBP-BSC’s letter (both dates inclusive), after which no such application will be entertained.
Only such sugar mills having presence in Punjab and submitting certificate from the office of Cane Commissioner Punjab at the time of allocation of sugar export quota will be eligible for sugar freight support.
Approved claim will be disbursed to the respective AD in its account maintained with SBP-BSC for onward credit to the exporter’s account within 24 hours of disbursement.
Format of application by the sugar mills (Annexure-II) and the undertaking by AD (Annexure-III) are enclosed.
Incomplete requests shall not be considered, the SBP said.
