February 13, 2006	Monday	Muharram 14, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 12: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet has dropped the summary proposal of the Central Board of Revenue (CBR), seeking levy of 15 per cent regulatory duty on export of ‘Gur’ to Afghanistan.

An official told Dawn that the ECC meeting, presided over by the prime minister, dropped the proposal following persistent opposition from the farmers of the NWFP.

The meeting was informed that the formation of ‘Gur’ from sugarcane involved extensive labour and the levy might deprive many poor people associated with the business in the province of their work.

According to the official, the minister for food, agriculture and livestock, Sikandar Hayat Bosan, following a meeting with sugarcane farmers in the NWFP, recommended to the ECC that the regulatory duty would entail negative effects on the sector.

Of the total country’s production, about 80 per cent of Gur (100,000 tons) is produced in the NWFP.