ISLAMABAD, June 18: The government has withdrawn laundry soap from the list of 10 items to be subjected to 15 per cent general sales tax (GST) on printed retail price. An official told Dawn on Saturday that the levy of GST on laundry soap was revised to the pre-budget level at the demand of the manufacturers.

The government had proposed in the budget of 2005-06 to levy GST on printed retail price of 10 items — soap, detergent, perfumery and cosmetics, shaving cream, toothpaste, shampoos, tea, milky drink and powder drink, biscuits and confectionary. The tax would be collected at manufacturing stage.

According to the official, all the other changes proposed in the budget except some editorial changes were made part of the Sales Tax Act 1990 through the Finance Act 2005 passed by the National Assembly on Friday.

Similarly, all the changes proposed in the budget except some editorial changes were made part of the Federal Excise Act 2005 through the Finance Act.