ISLAMABAD, Oct 16: The Ministry of Commerce has proposed to Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf a string of measures to facilitate import of used products in the next three years’ trade policy framework 2012-15.

The ministry has sought ban on import of a number of products either to provide protection to the local industry or considering their import as injurious to health, an official source in the ministry of finance told Dawn on Tuesday.

The ministry has suggested unrestricted import of second-hand motorised wheel-chairs and five-year-old used or second-hand ambulances with a view to help the health sector.

For the leather garments industry, it proposed that two per cent of export proceeds be allowed to manufacturers-cum-exporters for duty-free import of accessories for value-addition of leather garments and made-ups by the same exporters.

The commerce ministry has also proposed that import of non-hazardous plastic scrap by industrial consumers be allowed for their use in industries as raw material subject to fulfillment of certain conditions. However, the ministry proposed complete ban on import of plastic scrap, hospital waste, used sewerage pipes and chemical containers.

The ministry also proposed complete ban on import of job lot and stock lot goods, restricting import of non-sterilised surgical needles and syringes to industrial units; condition of Euro-II may be made applicable on import of all types of specialised vehicles, such as crane-mounted lorries, dump trucks, mixture lorries, etc.

All goods of banned list imported in commercial quality shall be allowed re-export at importer/shipping lines’ cost.

The imported sub-standard goods of the restricted list should be destroyed within a period of six months without offering any release.

Currently, imports in violation of import policy order are confiscated or in some cases allowed to be released against redemption fine.

The ministry proposed to allow import of waste and scrap of tyres in completely shredded/cut form up to a maximum width of 7 centimeters to industrial consumers for use as alternate fuel.

At the same time, other types of rubber waste and scrap may continue to be imported with the condition of completely cut into pieces.

Pakistan standards are being made part of the Import Policy Order in a gradual manner to ensure that imported goods are in conformity with Pakistani standards.

Therefore, all domestic standards will equally apply to imported goods as well.

It has been proposed that construction, engineering and electrical companies be allowed to retain abroad the exported machinery to carry out work on export-cum-import basis with the condition that they will import the same on the conclusion of the contract against indemnity bond.

The ministry also proposed confiscation of stolen goods and slapping of ban on import of such goods, proposing ban on CFC-based air-conditioning machines.

All exporters of edible products be registered, and vegetable ghee and cooking oil exports be allowed in packaging of up to 25kg. The limit is being introduced to encourage value-addition

To check sale of inappropriately processed palm oil, only valid licence and registration number holders would be allowed to import palm oil.

At the same time, it has been proposed that import of auto pilot circuits be restricted to authorised agencies etc.