Potato export: Vegetable merchants demand issuance of SRO

Government has abolished 25% regulatory duty on exports

KARACHI: Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters, Importers & Merchants Association (PFVA) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to issue a letter that announces the removal of 25% regulatory duty on potato exports.

In a press release, PFVA said after the Economic Coordination Committee’s (ECC) decision of removing the regulatory duty, vegetable exporters had made commitments to their buyers and they were now facing problems because of delay in issuance of the relevant Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) by the FBR.

“In the absence of the SRO, the exporters will be unable to honour their commitments, which will likely have a negative impact on their credibility,” it said.

PFVA has already sent a request letter to the FBR and it expects to see prompt action in this regard.

The ECC, in a meeting held on December 24, abolished the 25% regulatory duty on potato exports, with effect from December 20, 2014, on the basis of improved domestic production of the commodity.

The committee allowed export of the commodity on the recommendation of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

The ECC was told that farmers had planted potato crop on 10% larger area this year and a higher production was on the cards, which would leave a surplus.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd,  2015.

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