Commerce to Reinstate SRO 760 for Gold Exports

Islamabad, August 9, 2025, 04:31 PM PKT — Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has vowed decisive action, assuring the All Pakistan Small Gems Jewellers & Tools Association (APSGJTA) that SRO 760, offering tax exemptions to the gold export sector, will be reinstated soon after its July 8, 2025 expiration, expressing satisfaction with industry arguments, as per Friday discussions. A Zoom meeting with gold exporters highlighted delays in import and re-export consignments, including a 50 kg shipment stuck at port, with buyers threatening legal action against local partners due to the SRO lapse’s impact. Shabir Ahmad Awan, APSGJTA’s Export Standing Committee Convener, stressed the SRO’s critical role, while the minister and secretary promised prompt reinstatement, though exporters remain wary of delays after a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stall.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce, led by Chairman Jawed Hanif Khan, was told by the additional commerce secretary that a special committee approved the move, but the PMO returned it for review, with a follow-up meeting set for August 18, 2025. SRO 760(I)/2013 under Clause 6 exempts import duties and taxes on gold jewellery exports, precious metals, gemstones, and raw materials, though sales tax discrepancies affect Self-Consignment Scheme imports, while Entrustment Scheme gold imports stay exempt. Web context on trade policies shows implementation lags, while posts found on X reflect relief and skepticism—some hope for export revival, others doubt timely action. Critically, the narrative of “export support” may mask bureaucratic hurdles—web data hints at past delays, and X sentiment suggests distrust in government efficiency, pointing to potential setbacks.