ISLAMABAD: Member Customs Zahid Khokhar said the government has decided to increase regulatory duties on 1,800 items at different rates to discourage imports of luxury and unnecessary items.
Zahid Khokhar, while talking to media at the Parliament House, said that the government would generate Rs20 billion during the current fiscal year of 2018- through increasing these duties.
“We have made efforts to overcome trade imbalance and improve balance of payment situation,” he added.
The government also proposed increase in regulatory duty on import of cellular phones valuing $60 and above of any brand through the Finance Supplementary (Amendment) Bill 2018, and is expected to collect Rs4.4 billion on account of the levy in the current fiscal year. It proposed increase in regulatory duties on expensive mobile phones in the range of 10 to 20 percent. A flat tax rate of Rs250 per handset will continue to be charged.
