Potato export: Vegetable merchants demand issuance of SRO

Government has abolished 25% regulatory duty on exports


The committee allowed export of the commodity on the recommendation of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. PHOTO: FAREEHA MUFTI/EXPRESS

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 2nd,  2015.

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COMMENTS (2)

National Interest | 9 years ago | Reply

The duty of any federal government is to ensure local demand is fulfilled before allowing export of any commodity. The government imported 200,000 tons of potato to bring the prices down. In other words, there was a shortage of potato in the local market. Whether this shortage was created due to hoarding is another story. Why would the government allow export of potato if the same situation is going to repeat in 2015 as well.

PayBack2Us | 9 years ago | Reply

Please keep lowest any duties on exporters. This is not the place to make money. These exporters are a source of employment for thousands who would become a burden on Govt, plus the hard-to-find foreign exchange our exporters bring in is a reward in itself for the Pak Govt please provide as much free assistance as possible to such entrepreneurs, plus initiate programs that encourage more people into exporting Pak Goods. Please take their representatives from grass root level in your foreign tours, instead of plane-load of your relatives & neighbors for shoppings and site seeing. That's what we have voted for you, only! Sir!

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