The soda ash industry in Pakistan has voiced serious concern about the import of soda ash from the Ukraine and China at dumping price. The import has been attributed to a cut in import duty to 10% in the budget in June, 2003. So far, sources say over 15,000 tonnes have been imported from China alone. Compared to the cut by Pakistan, India is still maintaining 37% duty. Justifying their point, sources said total annual soda ash demand in the country was around 270,000 tonnes, against the installed production capacity of 290,000 tonnes, if the closed capacity of Sind Alkalis is not taken into account. A reduction in duty in 1997/8 resulted in the closure of Sind Alkalis, which was Pakistan's second largest producer after ICI and had been in operation since the 1970s. Sind was privatised in 1992 and was eventually bought by its workers.
