NEW DELHI, Jan 3: India reduced on Thursday customs tariff on more than 4,800 items from Pakistan and Sri Lanka while abolished duty on these items from Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives, the least developed countries (LDCs) of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc).

The new rates come into effect from January 1. A finance ministry official said that the duty had been abolished on meat, fish, milk, dairy products and dry fruits on imports from the Saarc LDCs, but it had been reduced to 12-20 per cent on these items from Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

According to a finance ministry notification, all pharmaceutical products and drugs could now be imported at 10 per cent duty from LDCs, as against 12.5 per cent duty earlier. However, tariff on drugs has not been cut in case of Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Media reports said customs duty on fertiliser, lime and cement has been cut to 10 per cent in case of LDCs, but it would remain at 12.5 per cent for Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Dairy products, excluding milk powder, and butter oil can also be imported from LDCs at zero duty. However, Pakistan and Sri Lanka would have to pay 20 per cent duty on these products.—APP