Pakistan exempts sales tax on fresh fruits from Afghanistan
Syed Ali Shah:
Pakistan has decided not to collect tax on fresh fruits from Afghanistan. According to a notification by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the government has announced to exempt sales tax on fresh fruits from Afghanistan.
However, sales tax would be collected only on apple fruit, the notification mentioned. “This is a good step on behalf of Pakistan to facilitate growers of Afghanistan”, Haji Akhtar Kakar, an office-bearer of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industries said. Imposing a tax on apples from Afghanistan was the demand of growers from Balochistan. “The government accepted our demand”, Mr. Kakar stated.
The volume of trade significantly increased at the Pak-Afghan border Chaman recently. Trucks loaded with fresh fruits, dry fruits are entering from Afghanistan into Pakistan. Similarly, trucks loaded with commodities are entering from Pakistan into Afghanistan.
The FBR decision to boost bilateral trade
“This will boost bilateral trade between the two countries”, Mr. Kakar stated. This was one of the longstanding demands of people living on both sides of the border.
Pedestrians movement also increased at Pak-Afghan border Chaman. “Since the establishment of Taliban government, the volume of trade increased”, a senior administration official in Chaman said. Unlike past, there are no untoward incidents at the border, he said. Border used to be closed for weeks because of untoward incidents in the past. Daily wage workers remained the worst sufferers of closure of Pak-Afghan border Chaman.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Mansoor Ahmed Khan also took to Twitter and termed the initiative an important step towards increasing bilateral trade.
Pakistan serves to be the best market for Afghani fruits
Pakistan is one of the best markets for dry and fresh fruits from Afghanistan. Most of the farmers and growers have cemented good links with companies in Pakistan for the sale of dry and fresh fruits. Pakistan also continues to meet the growing demands of commodities in Afghanistan.
The Afghan government has also welcomed the waving off of the sales tax by Pakistan on fresh fruits. “This is an encouraging step to boost bilateral trade”, an Afghan official was quoted by radio Pakistan.