Published: March 19, 2025, 04:39 PM
To keep fresh fruit prices affordable during Ramadan, the government has reduced import duties by 15%, according to a notification from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Tuesday (March 18).
As per two new notifications issued on March 16, the supplementary duty on fresh fruit imports has been lowered from 30% to 25%, while the 5% advance tax has been completely waived. Additionally, an earlier notification on March 10 reduced the advance income tax on fruit imports from 10% to 5%.
The interim government has recently introduced several tax cuts on essential commodities such as edible oil, sugar, potatoes, eggs, onions, rice, dates, and pesticides to stabilize market prices during Ramadan.
Apart from food items, the government has also taken steps to reduce financial burdens in other areas. Metro rail services have been fully exempted from VAT to ensure affordable transportation. Similarly, VAT exemptions have been extended to locally supplied and imported e-book services to support students and education.
In another relief measure, the government has withdrawn the excise duty on Hajj tickets to make pilgrimage costs more affordable.
These tax cuts highlight the government`s efforts to maintain economic stability and support the public during this crucial period.
