FBR Exempts Taxes, Duties On Import Of Tomato, Onion.

ISLAMABAD -- The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has exempted all duties and taxes on import of onion and tomatoes to reduce commodities prices in the country.

The FBR has issued two Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs) to provide exemption from taxes/duties on import of onion and tomatoes to stabilise commodity prices, escalating due to floods. Recent floods have brought unprecedented crop damage. As a result, the prices of onion and tomatoes have sky-rocketed in the local markets. In order to alleviate the sufferings of the people due to abnormal price hike, the prime minister ordered urgent relief measures to ensure an uninterrupted supply of onion and tomatoes in the local markets.

'In line with the vision of the prime minister, and on the directions of the federal government, the FBR has exempted all duties and taxes on import of onion and tomatoes,' the FBR said on Thursday. Such imports were already exempt from customs duty but were chargeable to 17 percent sales tax, 3 percent additional...