ISLAMABAD, May 6: The government is likely to reduce the general sales tax (GST) from 18 per cent to 15 per cent on pesticides as part of reducing the cost of agriculture inputs.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Pakistan Crop Protection Association (PCPA), chairman, Ejaz Ahmad Chaudhary said that the top tax officials have given them the assurance that the GST would be brought at par with that of fertilizers.

He said that during the meeting held on Monday, member sales tax, Ramzan Bhatti has said that the issue would be submitted to the finance ministry for approval, which after consideration would be announced in the forthcoming budget.

PCPA has requested the CBR to bring down the GST rate with that of fertilizer and should be collected at source.

The chairman also appealed to the Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali to reduce the cost of agriculture inputs aimed at making the agriculture produce competitive in the international markets.

He urged the prime minister to announce a relief package for the farmers to help them increase the agriculture production, which he said would not be necessary for the farmers but would result into an earning of foreign exchange.

He said that in case the government has not reduced the input costs, particularly the electricity charges, it was feared that Pakistani products would become less competitive in the international markets.

To a question, the chairman suggested to the government to install laboratories for checking and maintaining the quality of products in the international markets.