ISLAMABAD, June 13: The government has reduced customs duty on import of live animals and meat, as well as on import of wood. It has increased duty on dumper trucks and auto parts, and exempted hepatitis vaccines and items meant for disabled persons from import duty.

Besides offering incentives for the energy sector, it has scaled down duty on call centre equipment and capital goods. Through various customs notifications 2004-05 issued on Sunday, the government has proposed to revise customs duty on the import of crude palm oil at the rate of Rs9500/PMT. However, in case of local refinery, the customs duty rate of Rs9000/PMT shall remain in force.

The government has extended the monetary limit for free gift parcel to Rs10,000 from Rs1,000 to facilitate Pakistani expatriates. It has levied duty on local sales/disposal of vehicles by diplomats and privileged organizations.

The government has decided to reduce customs duty from 10 per cent to 5 per cent on import of live animals. Besides, it has cut duty on import of cow meat and goat meat from 10 per cent to 5 per cent.

Duty on all kinds of wood falling under PCT heading 4403 and 4407 is to be reduced from the present rate of 10 per cent to 5 per cent. The local manufactures have been allowed duty concession on relocation of projects in case of plant, machinery.

Duty has been increased on auto parts from 25 per cent to 35 per cent. Concessionary rates of customs duty in respect of auto-vender industry have been rationalized on the import of raw materials at 5 per cent, sub-components at 10 per cent, sub-assemblies at 20 per cent and components and assemblies at 35 per cent.

Customs duty on import of dumper trucks has been increased from 40 per cent to 60 per cent. "It is proposed that containers will not be opened and examined at the port. It is proposed to reduce customs duty to 5 per cent on import of active ingredients/raw materials for local manufacture/formulation of pesticides presently," one notification read.

The monetary limit of samples with no commercial value imported by manufacturers-cum-exporters has been further enhanced from $50 to $100. All types of wheelchairs, hearing aids, hearing assessment equipment, artificial parts, cochlear implant system, deaf-related hearing impairment system, items used for rehabilitation of blind persons and vaccines for hepatitis B and C have been proposed to be exempted from customs duty.

Also exempted from duty are cardiology/cardiac surgery disposable and other specified equipment. Under incentives for the energy sector, the government reduced duty from 10 per cent to 5 per cent on plant, machinery and equipment, imported for balancing, modernization and replacement of existing power generation projects.

The government allowed complete customs duty exemption on renewable energy power project like solar, wind, microhydal, bio-energy, waste to energy, hydrogen cell, etc.

Customs duty has also been reduced to 5 per cent on import of IP phones, headsets, UPS, satellite system. Duty on import of fresh and dry fruits has been reduced from 10 per cent to 5 per cent from Afghanistan. Customs duty on the import of aero models not manufactured locally has been reduced from 25 per cent to 10 per cent.