ISLAMABAD: The government has enhanced regulatory duty to a maximum of 25 per cent on imports of essential eatables.

The move may cause higher than anticipated import-led inflation in the next fiscal year.

The projected inflation target is set at 6pc for 2017-18.

For curbing the rising consumption of imported fish, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has increased the regulatory duty to 25pc from existing 10pc on various kinds of fish.

In the other food items, the government also slapped a regulatory duty of 5pc on import of egg yolks (dried and other).

The regulatory duty was enhanced to 20pc from 15pc on yogurt, butter, cheese and its products, natural honey, and many other dairy products. This will give more monopoly to local producers and will cause further rise in price of these products.

In fresh fruits, the regulatory duty was raised to 20pc from 15pc on pineapples, avocados, oranges, kinno, lemons, fresh grapes, watermelons, papayas, apples, pears, quinces, apricots, peaches, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, kiwifruit, pomegranates, apricots, prunes, pine nut, lychee and dry fruits.

The duty was raised to 20pc from 15pc on the import of macaroni, vermicelli, pasta, corn flakes, crisp bread, ginger bread, sweet biscuits, waffles, rusks, and pickles.

On vegetables, the duty was further enhanced to 20pc from 15pc on potatoes, tomatoes, peas, beans, sweet corns, homogenised vegetables and mushrooms. Similarly, the duty was raised to 20pc from 10pc on preserves of all fruits. The duty was also raised from 15pc to 20pc on fruit juices.

Regulatory duty on potatoes, tomatoes, yogurt and butter rose to 20pc, and on fish to 25pc

The duty was raised to 15pc from 10pc on instant coffee in bulk and instant coffee in retail packs. The duty was raised to 20pc from 15pc on soya sauce, tomato ketchup, mustard flour, soups and broths, ice cream and other edible ice, concentrates for aerated beverage in all forms, syrups and squashes, sweet meats, mineral waters, aerated waters.

In cosmetics, the duty was raised to 20pc from 15pc on perfumes, lip make up preparations, eye makeup preparations, nail polish, face powder, talcum powder, face and skin creams, tonics and skin food, shampoos, cream for hair, hair lacquers, dyes for hair, tooth paste, and shaving cream.

The regulatory duty was raised to 20pc from 10pc on more than 32 products of leather, sportswear, jackets and footwear etc.

The regulatory duty was raised to 20pc from 15pc on various kinds of ceramics.

Similarly, the duty was raised to 20pc from 15pc on import of dinner sets, dishes, plates, tea cups, and ceramic tableware.

In electronics, the duty was raised to 20pc from 15pc on ceiling fan, pedestal fan, table fan, exhaust fan, and air conditioners.

The duty was raised to 20pc from 15pc on food grinders, fruit mixers, fruit or vegetable juice extractors, hair dryers, hand drying apparatus, electric smoothing irons, electric smoothing irons, microwave oven, electric ranges, electric roasters, coffee or tea makers, toasters, line telephone sets. The duty was raised to 20pc from 15pc on reception apparatus for receiving satellite signals of a kind used with TV (satellite dish receiver).

The duty was also raised from 10pc to 20pc on various kinds of weapons imports, wooden furniture.

In the sports sector, the regulatory duty was raised to 20pc from 10pc on various articles of table tennis, squash, footballs, and balls of all sports, articles and equipment for general physical exercise, gymnastics and athletics.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2017